i blew my blue temp sensor out help please

[slammed-gti]

  i've got a 1990 8v gti golf. its all standard. on the way home from work last night I was giving my right foot a work out and kicking the butt of a rover coupe. (i don't often race it like that ) when i got home i seen steam coming out from under the bonnet..i couldn't do anything in the dark so this morning i went to investigate and my blue sensor had blown itself out. i have bought a new seal for it.. the expansion bottle has no water left in it.. my questions are..
do i have to bleed the system? if so how and is it easy?
have you ever heard of this before happening?
do you think i've caused and perminant damage 
cheers in advance

[Khare]

bleeding the system is easy mate. Just fill it up until it reaches the max mark, then start the car up and let it idle for about 10 mins or so. Dont let it get to fully operating temp though. (do all this with the heater controls in MAX heat) after 10 mins turn ur car off and let it cool down for an hour or so. (water expands when hot) after that top it up to the max mark and put the cap on it, and you should be fine to go.

[slammed-gti]

cheers mate, but my heaters don't work..i need to get a new blower thing that is under the passenger parcle shelf.. can it b bleed without the heaters on?
many thanks

[Khare]

heater doesnt have to be on. Just the knob taht controls the temp has to be on the MAX heat position.

[slammed-gti]

right i have a more pressing problem i've just been out in failing light to put on the new o ring on the blue temp sensor and it wont go on. it appears to be sitting to high i have tried place it in the hole and to put it on the sensor.. but nothing it way to high i bought it from vw helston today.
i don't want to push it to hard for fear of breaking something.
the guy at vw said if the seal is missing it could rattle out as it did last night any suggestions
thanks for our help so far mate its a big help

[rubjonny]

there is an faq on bleeding the system, either in the garage section or in the mk2 maintenance + info. no need to set the heater blower on max either 
might be usefull to have the blower on low check for heat, if you get it then you know the matrix is bled properly.

[TimmyMagic]

Make sure you've taken the old O ring out first too...

[slammed-gti]

dont think it had one? can't find it anyway

[slammed-gti]

right got the blessed o'ring in car ran for around 10 mins till boiling point cap left off.....car left to cool down while i have a cuppa.....fingers crossed