Thermostat questions

[breeze]

I'd also remove the fans if possible. it's tight in there.

Definitely.

[Numero9]

Fans removed from the top or bottom? On the family wagon, 3 fixings, unclip a hose and connector & it's out.

[Numero9]

Another joy of dealing with the stealers, I think I may have to try another one as this one doesn't seem to get anything right. Was told when ordering the thermostat it would come with the sensor. Just got home and opened up the delivery box and no sensor.

The sensor is one into the hose and with a clip, is this the same one as the pics don't show a clip or o-ring in it:
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/era-coolant-temperature-sensor-223440210

[LC5F]

The specialist I use changes thermostats by removing the inlet manifold as he says it is the easiest and quickest way, he has done 100's so take what he considers easy with a pinch of salt.

To be fair there is a YT vid by Naptowntuner taking a TFSI manifold off in something mad like 5 minutes - but don't recall him showing it going back on!

inlet manifold off definitely will make it an easy fix for the thermostat - but I would be concerned about disturbing the teflon injector seals and you have to deal with the support bracket bolt the yanks overdramatically call the the "satan bolt". If your not practiced in inlet removal, I would say leave it alone.

[LC5F]

Another joy of dealing with the stealers, I think I may have to try another one as this one doesn't seem to get anything right. Was told when ordering the thermostat it would come with the sensor. Just got home and opened up the delivery box and no sensor.

The sensor is one into the hose and with a clip, is this the same one as the pics don't show a clip or o-ring in it:
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/era-coolant-temperature-sensor-223440210

Yes -it doesn't come with sensor. doesn't come with clip or O-ring
That one does look right, but at that price you may as well go genuine

[Numero9]

Another joy of dealing with the stealers, I think I may have to try another one as this one doesn't seem to get anything right. Was told when ordering the thermostat it would come with the sensor. Just got home and opened up the delivery box and no sensor.

The sensor is one into the hose and with a clip, is this the same one as the pics don't show a clip or o-ring in it:
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/era-coolant-temperature-sensor-223440210

Yes -it doesn't come with sensor. doesn't come with clip or O-ring
That one does look right, but at that price you may as well go genuine

Read genuine is £40+ for sensor, o-ring & clip. Going to the dealer again tomorrow, hopefully they have it otherwise they've cost me a weekend in getting this sorted and not impressed with their level of information, how can they know/not know if the stat has the sensor in

[LC5F]

Read genuine is £40+ for sensor, o-ring & clip. Going to the dealer again tomorrow, hopefully they have it otherwise they've cost me a weekend in getting this sorted and not impressed with their level of information, how can they know/not know if the stat has the sensor in

That's only £13 more than euro one, and genuine is likely to last longer - probably its the original one on the car.
Agreed - its annoying, likely they were thinking of another thermostat, no point sweating it.

Time served mechanics check over parts before leaving the counter - annoying if you are queuing up behind them - but its a good habit to get into, it has saved me a few times at Euros.

[Numero9]

Read genuine is £40+ for sensor, o-ring & clip. Going to the dealer again tomorrow, hopefully they have it otherwise they've cost me a weekend in getting this sorted and not impressed with their level of information, how can they know/not know if the stat has the sensor in

That's only £13 more than euro one, and genuine is likely to last longer - probably its the original one on the car.
Agreed - its annoying, likely they were thinking of another thermostat, no point sweating it.

Time served mechanics check over parts before leaving the counter - annoying if you are queuing up behind them - but its a good habit to get into, it has saved me a few times at Euros.

I think I'm going to get into that routine and check  unfortunately I didn't collect these having been away.

Hopefully they have one in stock otherwise it's going to be a right pain in the chops!

[Numero9]

None in stock at the dealer so the one from euro it is, although it has no clip but o-ring so just got to be careful getting it off.

Dealer wanted £60+ for the ECT, o-ring & clip!

[pudding]

Yes that sensor is expensive and always has been for some reason.  It was £45 10 years ago, so hasn't gone up by much really.

Fans come out the bottom the easiest I've found.  Just 4 self tappers and it's out. I didn't find that necessary when doing my thermostat though. Just removing the alternator opens up all kinds of real estate.

[Numero9]

All done and dusted and runs up to temp within minutes. Left it over night to check for leaks and top up more coolant.

Took the fans out in the end, only 4 fixings and connector at the bottom made life much easier especially for hand clearance. Had a big issue with disconnecting the bottom radiator hose, couldn't get it free from either end so had to cut the end off the stat and use some serious effort to get the end off. Flushed the hose end to remove any potential swarf that might have gotten in.

Glad I changed the temp sensor too, was quite corroded. FYI the one from ECP was absolutely fine, o-ring was spot on and no damage to the clip meant I reused it. About £50 saved there!

And the tip about the alternator bushes (not sure if it was here, another thread or a video) the deep socked to draw them out slightly meant fitting it back was so easy, had more trouble getting the p-clip back on that fitting the thing...

Appreciate all the help and guidance on this one. Now just oil change and to check for any broken headlight level sensors

[mjmallia]

Glad you sorted it

[Numero9]

Glad you sorted it

With guidance from you lot & youtube videos!

I'd love to meet the engineers who decided to put the thermostat there though 

[pudding]

Glad you sorted it

With guidance from you lot & youtube videos!

I'd love to meet the engineers who decided to put the thermostat there though 

German cars are all the same.  Plenty of plastic crap in hard to reach places, which they know darn well will go brittle and fall apart.  MK7.5 owners with the £500 plastic water pump (very high failure rate) would certainly be jealous of your cheap and easy experience, by comparison.

And that's the thing with MK5s.  Yes they break, but when they do, most of it is fairly inexpensive and easy-ish to get at.  Anyone with an S4, S6, RS5 etc.  Engine out job to do literally ANYTHING on it.

[breeze]

And that's the thing with MK5s.  Yes they break, but when they do, most of it is fairly inexpensive and easy-ish to get at.  Anyone with an S4, S6, RS5 etc.  Engine out job to do literally ANYTHING on it.

Yep