time for new waterpump/thermostat?

[jamie16v]

well, over the last couple of days my car has been overcooling which pointed to the thermostat to me.. i wasnt too concerned about that as i knew it wasnt an immedieate danger but needed to be done. however, driving to college this evening my car went nearly to the red. on my way home it started shouting STOP at me.
the heaters in the car woulndnt even warm up either.. 
when i got out of the car and felt the coolant hoses, the top hose was hot and the bottom was absolutlely freezing but was luke warm by the thermostat housing.
so i`m thinking if it was stuck shut then at least the heaters would warm up? so if i am thinking correctly, the waterpump has had its day?. 

[tech1889]

i would change the thermostat first as its easiest and cheapest.. if problem persists then change waterpump..

[will gti]

i might have a spanking new genuine thermostat for sale if the temp sender dont solve my problem 

[new to vw]

Do them both bud it wont cost that much to do, are you doing it yourself.....

[jamie16v]

im going to change the waterpump first due to the symptoms. if it was the thermostat then the heaters would at least warm up as all the stat does is open a path to the rad. as there is no heat from the heaters this suggests there is no circulation thus being the pump.

[Wayne]

when i got out of the car and felt the coolant hoses, the top hose was hot and the bottom was absolutlely freezing but was luke warm by the thermostat housing.
so i`m thinking if it was stuck shut then at least the heaters would warm up? so if i am thinking correctly, the waterpump has had its day?. 

The above still suggests thermostat to me.

[mr 1.8t dubbster]

Iv just changed the thermostat on mine, what a ball ache trying to get the housing off!! saves money tho getting it done at the garage.

[jamie16v]

when i got out of the car and felt the coolant hoses, the top hose was hot and the bottom was absolutlely freezing but was luke warm by the thermostat housing.
so i`m thinking if it was stuck shut then at least the heaters would warm up? so if i am thinking correctly, the waterpump has had its day?. 

The above still suggests thermostat to me.

but doesnt the heater matrix run on a separarte circuit from the rad?.. ie when the stat is closed the coolant still flows through the heater matrix?..  or are you suggesting that it is stuck open?...
because if it was stuck open, wouldnt i then not have an overheating problem but more of an overcooling problem?..

[tech1889]

Stuck closed

[jamie16v]

Stuck closed

if it was stuck closed i would still get heat through the heater matrix.