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Slight Transporter issue over here. Just trying to decide if it's a DIY job or not. Assuming I know what the problem is. I might be wrong.
My temperature gauge maxes out at 70. It's meant to be in the middle on 90. It takes ages to come up even on the motorway and if I put the heater on it drops back down to 50-60.
So is my thermostat kaput? It's on the back of the engine, facing the bulkhead. It's below the airbox and above the turbo. So I'm thinking pull the airbox out and go in that way.
The thermostat is cheap enough. I just don't want to start a job I can't finish and have an immobile van sitting in the street.
If it is the thermostat, will I damage then van by driving it? I'm just thinking that if it's not getting up to temperature the oil might not be doing its job.
Any advice or guidance much appreciated.
I'd go for replacing the temp sensor first as they seem to be a regular failure point across all brands of diesels.
If you can't get a plug in check of course to double check!
You're not going to kill it, but its not ideal running it cool. I've changed one before but not a T5, might need a gasket. Sort of job where you may as well flush the coolant at the same time.
You can also check the thermostat by feeling the rad, if its starting to warm up early thats a sign it stuck, normally the van would get to normal temperature and then the stat would open, and the rad would go from cool to fairly hot quite quickly.
Have you inspected the coolant..condition does it look mucky as opposed to pink or blue or whatever colour it is)?
When was it last changed.
Is it at the right level (not leaking)
Could be a blockage in the coolant system preventing efficient circulation.
A faulty sensor is probaby most likely, but you can check the above to rule things out.
Also is the oil topped up and in reasonable condition?
I'd go for replacing the temp sensor first as they seem to be a regular failure point across all brands of diesels.
I was assuming, with my lack of knowledge, that if a sensor was broken there would be no reading at all.
i.e. the gauge wouldn't go up and down according to speed, heater use etc..
might need a gasket.
Just done some part hunting. Apparently the thermostat and housing is one piece and it comes with a gasket.
I think I have coolant left over from the last flush. I was assuming I'd need to drain it anyway.
Have you inspected the coolant..condition does it look mucky as opposed to pink or blue or whatever colour it is)?
The coolant is pink, at the right level, and the header tank is full of oily black floaters!
This is from last year when the oil cooler split and filled the cooling system with oil. It's been flushed 5 or 6 times since but I still get spots of oil in the tank. I thought it might the oil that broke the thermostat or made it sticky.
if thermostat is gone, the temperature will likely increase to normal if sat stationary in traffic with no airflow over it, and will drop off the scale when on the move.
I had similar in an old t4 I'd bought super cheap off a fairly dodgy van dealer in Bristol.
Turns out someone had somehow managed to hack a 1.9 VW Passat engine in place of the 2.4 lump that was supposed to be there....
It ran ok but still I punted it on pretty quickly...
if thermostat is gone, the temperature will likely increase to normal if sat stationary
That happened. Managed to get some decent heat out of the blowers while sitting at the beach yesterday!
That happened. Managed to get some decent heat out of the blowers while sitting at the beach yesterday!
problem solved - stay at the beach!
Does it take longer to warm up than it did before , is it worse when the weather is colder , if so its the stat for sure, also what you say about the heater confirms it for me. Diesels do need to run at correct temp to be efficient , and stick a tin of radflush through it before you do the job because you will be renewing the coolant.
the 1900tdi conversion is a common one and ok if done well, but back on topic
make sure all your rad hoses are warm does the bottom hose and top hose reach the same temp at the same time?
Id say you were on the right path though
I'm going to put some flush in this morning then go about my business. See what turns up in the header tank. I won't be able to order the part until Tuesday morning so I'll try and change it then.