Yeti running cool

[Bopman]

Hi all - My Skoda Yeti 2.0 litre tdi isn't getting hot enough and I'm suspecting the thermostat being stuck open. Strangely it started since removing the bottom cover plate after spotting fluid from the dsg which turned out to be a leaky O ring on the filter..I ran the car for a couple of days without the cover being fitted, but nothing has been disturbed otherwise!..Looking at the ElsaWin manual, it looks like a pric# of a job since it looks like the whole plastic module has to be changed and looks to be expensive..Shopping around I can get a Gates replacement for half the price from the EU but it's certainly more expensive than the drop in metal element found on older cars I've owned.Has anyone fitted one and if so can you offer any tips please?
Cheers

[Umai Naa!!]

I've replaced one on a Scout, but the same setup.

It's a cow of a job, to be honest. Unless you're familiar with modern diesel engines, you'd be better off paying someone to do it. Alternator comes out, injector lines come off, as does the upper part of the intake manifold.

Also, a Wahler-branded one is a genuine one with the part number filed off.

[tigger73]

Gven its a right PITA to change this I'd be getting it properly diagnosed before going around ordering expensive parts.

[Bopman]

Thanks for the response Umai..I've been looking at it this afternoon as well as reading the manual and for the life of me, I don't understand why they they use those horrible spring pipe clips instead of jubilee clips?..Just something to add to the misery I guess!
Also I don't know why they can't make these housings in a way that you can twist the pipe inlet a ¹/₃ of a turn anti-clockwise, fit a new stat and O ring and twist them clock-wise back together again?..All that work for a damn thermostat!

[Bopman]

Gven its a right PITA to change this I'd be getting it properly diagnosed before going around ordering expensive parts.

Thanks Tigger - I've got VCDS and can see if anything shows up but I'm pretty sure it's the thermostat..I took a 30km trip each way last night and it was halfway between cold and normal most of the way and barely scraped normal at one point.

[Umai Naa!!]

Monitor the coolant temp with VCDS.

The gauge is very slow to react, and 'normal' can be a 30deg variance in actual temp.

[Bopman]

Monitor the coolant temp with VCDS.

The gauge is very slow to react, and 'normal' can be a 30deg variance in actual temp.

Thanks Umai - Will do!..I have a love hate relationship with this car..It's had air-con compressor failure, Haldex pump and now this... I've owned my fair share of cars in my 62 years, 1964 Jaguar Mkll, Ford Escort diesel, Rover SDI V8, a kit car based on Ford running gear and Mexico engine, Commodore VS, Nissan Patrol but my wife talked me into the Skoda..I should have followed my instinct and bought a bike instead!
Jeremy Clarkson can carry some of the blame too!

[woofy]

I had my 2008 RS OCty run cold, took it into SKoda and they couldn't see anything. Went straight onto the freeway and saw the temp guage drop when I got to 100C.Took it straight back and new thermostat fixed it. Cost me $500 in that engine. The issue started after they did the major service and replaced the water pump...guessing they flushed some crap into it causing it to stick, but of course they wouldn't accept that....

[Bopman]

Hi guyz - Well I'm pleased to say she's fixed!..I ran my VCDS and apart from a fault code from my number plate light bulb failure (that I'd replaced 3 weeks prior) nothing else showed...Oil temperature was low as was the temperature output from the coolant sensor so I was pretty sure it was the thermostat!
Seeing what a cow of a job it is, I got my local V-Dub man to do it, which took him 4 hours, plus he rang me and said my EGR valve needed decoking so I got him to do that at the same time. I was so impressed with his and his guys work and price, that I thought I'd drop him off a few lotto scratchies this week as a thankyou.

[Bopman]

I had my 2008 RS OCty run cold, took it into SKoda and they couldn't see anything. Went straight onto the freeway and saw the temp guage drop when I got to 100C.Took it straight back and new thermostat fixed it. Cost me $500 in that engine. The issue started after they did the major service and replaced the water pump...guessing they flushed some crap into it causing it to stick, but of course they wouldn't accept that....

Glad you got it fixed Woofy.