thermostat not working

[sjs]

hi, can any one tell me if on my 2003 vectra c 2.2 dti to replace the thermostat i need to replace the whole housing or can the thermostat be removed from the housing and a new one fitted, also if this is the case, is the 2.2 dti vectra b thermostat and housing the same as the 2.2dti vectra c thermostat and housing, i seem to only be able to find one listed under vectra b, many thanks

[bigmac]

It's a complete housing all though I think someone did find part number for a replacement part from motor factors.
I don't think the Vectra b ones fit as they are different angles ,all though I could be wrong.

[Innes]

I just replaced the thermostat and not the housing. I bought a new gasket to refit the housing. I dont know what the thermostat part number was but I just went into my local motoring shop and asked for a thermostat for a Vectra-C 2.2dti. I paid about £12 for the thermostat and about 70p for the gasket from Vauxhall.

[sjs]

cool i ll try and get just the thermostat itself as everything else seems good, i found a thermostat on good old e-bay for about a tenner but it was for a vec b 2.2 tdi, im guessing that although the housing may be a different, the stat is probably the same, just to confirm i ve made the right diagnosis, my temp gauge no longer moves unless im stood in traffic or left to idle for some time and when it does move it only reaches about 60 deg not the normal 90 ish, the coolant also flows into the expantion tank even when the engine is cold from start in the morning, my understanding is that the coolant is only released by the thermostat and allowed to flow round the engine when it hits aprox 90 deg or whatever the stat is set to, im guessing it is nackered and stuck open, feel free to correct me if im wrong, thanks guys all help greatfully appreciated

[Innes]

It sounds like its stuck open to me but bare in mind that the DTi's are slow to warm up anyway. Its still worth changing though.

I'd never changed one before but it was fairly easy. The thermostat I bought came with a cardboard tube which you put the thermostat on the end and the push into the housing and then rotate to hook in. You need to drain off the old coolant so you might as well buy brand new coolant and replace the old stuff.

[sjs]

cool sounds like i m on the right track, i will get one and stick it in and hopfully problem solved, thanks for the advice