What is a Waxstat?

[Godzilla]

As the title really!!

Been reading up reviews on my girlfriends MK2 1.6 Driver and the majority of reviews have put down 'waxstat' as a common fault........What exactly is it, where does it live and what does it do?!

[Haribo!]

its on the carb inside a black plastic thing i think, if it stops working it messes the whole thing up... or something..

[clipperjay]

It's an over run switch which is small plastic bulb looking thing and a little metal rod made from wax. As the car warms up it melts the wax and pulls in the metal rod which is attached to the choke or idle arm and vice versa when cold. You find it runs rough when the waxstat fails you need to buy new and don't start messing around with the rod i.e. push it in it will damage it big time.
Look at Rub Jonnys guide for pierburg problems your answers will be there!

J
There you go its called a Thermal Expansion Element aswell GSF about 25-30 squid I think. Don't get a secondhand one or a metal type one rubbish stick with plastic housing better coeffeicent.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=33259.0