Date:         Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:02:44 -0400
Reply-To:     Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Thermostat woes--or--?

Hey folks,

For the past six months, I've been having problems with my 1.9 running way
cold. It takes forever to warm up, and when running downhill or in cold
weather for any length of time, the needle rides right on the bottom, and
there isn't any heat.

I replaced the thermostat last November with a 195* Wahler, and it worked ok
for a while, heating up and driving normally. Now it's back to running cold,
with concomitant running problems (stumbling, low idle; misfiring under
load, etc.)

The wrinkle: I pulled the thermostat a month ago and tested it in boiling
water. It was fully closed when I pulled it, and didn't START to open until
200*, almost boiling. It closed normally when I put it in the freezer, and
opened again just fine.

What's going on? Is there anything else that could make the engine run cold?

Do thermostats ever fail intermittently?

Geza