Hi,

I have a 99 british spec 2000 turbo AWD.

On along motorway run the temp seems to sit at the bottom of the guage, and the heaters blow only luke warm air. if I am about town, then it seems to get up to temp quickly enough.

it seems to be running ok. it has 92000 miles on the clock and has just had both head gaskets, maf sensor and Lambda sensor.

is this normal? any Ideas?

ta,
wayne

No that isn't normal! Sounds like there is either an air lock in the system, not enough water or worst case scenario, the head gaskets haven't been replaced properly. I'd take it back ASAP and get it checked.

No thermostate in it perhaps?

Does it take a long time to warm up?

Should be at middle of the gauge after roughly 4miles of 40mph driving..

JGM :)

Sounds like no thermostat mate.
Start the car from cold and feel the temp of the bottom hose.
If it gets warm straight away (first few minutes) then it looks like its either stuck open or more than likely not there.
Have you owned the car from new? This is often an easy mod to mask overheating problems. If you fit a new stat make sure the car doesn't overheat straight away.
Another possible reason for the stat being removed is if the car was used as a towing vehicle by the previous owner.
Hope this helps.

bottom hose as in on the left as you face the front of the car?

not owned from new, bought from a dealer in august!

since then needed new head gaskets, maf and lambda sensor. all done under warranty so far, but if there is no thermostat i iwll take it back and demand a refund.... or drive it through their window!

enough is enough after all!

thanks for your help people

No bottom hose is on the right when you look at the front of the car..

Lift the bonnet and look between engine and radiator.. you will see two pipes about 2inch diameter connected to the rad.. left one and on the top of the rad is the top hose, right one and on the bottom of the rad is called the bottom hose.

Like said if the bottom one heats up within the first could of minutes when the theromstate is stuck open or missing.

It might be that the previous owner had an over heating problem due to the head gaskets.. sold it to the dealer quick having removed the therostate to mask the problem..

you bought it and head gaskets went and have been replaced but theromostate is still missing. Not really the dealers fault if this is the case..

JGM

I seen duff thermostats stick shut....until engine overheats enough to knacker head gaskets, and then the thermostat opens and stays open!

It's most certainly one of the 1st things to check.

I still think the dealer should sort it.. foc..

also if what Ali says is true then they should have known to check it really.

JGM :)