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please help!!!

I cannot get the thermostat housing back on! Just can't do it, is there a way of getting it on easily? is there a picture guide?

Also the thread in the bottom screw hole came out this poses a bit of a problem as well but i was hoping the seal of the o-ring would hold it together along with the other screw.

is it hard/expensive to fit the hole housing? what should i expect for parts/labour?

thanks

LOL.....

IV BEEN THEIR!!!!!

ITs well scary at the time... the housing for the thermostat is made out of cheap plastic... IT's a cheap material that cuts costs for the manufactures but is a real pain in the arss when it comes to changing the thermostat.

This is because....

The thread in the housing is a delicate (CHEAP) plastic that if over tightened... can easily loose its tread. So.. if you tighten it too much or over do it, you can mess up the the 2 bolts that hold the thermostate tighly into the housing. So you will continuosly screw the bolt in and it will slip straight out as if their is nothing for it to grip too.

IF THE HOUSING WAS MADE OUT OF METAL THIS WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN.

DONT WORRY. the housing is cheap. but just means your gona spend a little more time.

OK....

1st... you have one alternative .... a mechanic told me i could do.... its a cheap option if you dont want to buy a new housing and gona do it the CHEAP WAY (not really recomended) but you can stuff the hole with broken matches... this produces a surface for the bolt to grip... however it is a bodge.

OTHERWISE...

buy a new housing with thermostate allready in.

It cost me 30 odd quid NEW. it has the thermostate in already.. so that job is done for you.... all you then have to do... is take the old thermostate housing off... (can be slightly tricky) and then replace it with the new one and connect all water pipes SECURELY.

I was panicking at the time thinking i had messed it up and thought the housing was part of the engine and meant i needed to get a whole new engine!!! LOL.. but its nothing... change the housing ... takes alot more time... but in the end.. . is the right thing to do.

phew! I knew that I couldn't have been the only one.

How tricky is it to actually get the whoe thing off (It gets a bit confusing here as the whole unit is actually the thermostat housing while people refer to just the hose connector the thermostat housing)

We finally got the termostat in and the piece on after covering the o-ring and connector in oil, we then tried using this 'chemical metal' stuff in the screw holes but it wasn't strong enough.

Don't know whether to get the local garage to do it or do it myself. I am pretty happy to do it and have a mate who can help who works for a small supercar manufacturer.

How difficult is it to actually do it? Is it just a matter of a few screws to attach the housing to the engine? Obviously have to take a few things out the way to get to it (air filter, leads, anything more?) but I have new plugs, leads, air filter to put in anyway so can get it all done in one. How much time did it take you?

Sorry for the long post, thanks so much for you help it is very much appreciated. If I do it myself I'll make a picture guide for others.

Cheers.

And also where did you get the part? I have already bought a couple of things from the local VW dealer and would feel like a real prat going there for the whole housing! Might have to send a friend.

I just checked for ya.. and i brought it from GSF CAR PARTS in Brixton... but German Sweedish French car parts... have branches all around UK and they have one in Bristol.. so your in luck... as they are the bizness.. and much better than the rip off prices that VW dealer ships will charge.

Im going on holiday this friday so have no time to take pictures... but i think you should attempt to do it yourself .. as its pretty easy... only long part is taking the water pipes off as they have annoying clips. But look at the new part for clues of where the bolts are .. if i remember correctly.. it is only 3 bolts... and then something like 7 water pipes and a few clips..

Good luck..

You are an absolute star mate. Thanks so much. Luckily GSF is fairly close to where I work so I trekked round there after work yesterday and picked up the part. Will probably wait until Saturday to fit it so I have plenty of time and will be taking some pictures and writing a little guide to doing it.

Strangly the thermostat or the corner pipe never came with it but as I have new ones lying around it should be no problem fitting while it is out of the car.

Cost me £34 if anyone's interested.

Cheers again, have a nice holiday.