Why doesn't my Vectra 1.9 CDTi warm up ANSWER (mods can this be made a sticky??)

[frasedeb]

The ECP thermostat is at fault.

The ECP thermostats work just fine, but because they are cheaply made in china, the wax capsule inside the thermostat opens at 60 degrees rather than the correct 90 degrees. Only way to cure it is to buy a VX original and get it replaced

Very interesting, replaced my stat with a ecp one last winter and never worked correctly, but does stay around 60 on the hidden menu like u said. I was thinking about changing it again but think i'll stick with this one after reading your post.

[Maxim007]

hello,
i want to change the thermostat now with a new one...
should i buy part number 55203388 ?
I'm asking this because when i bought the car in 2009, next winter i replaced the stat with BEHR one (G 1018.88)...and now it seems to have some problems again...temp gauge osculates between 75 and 87 degrees...and not sitting fixed...the old thermostat was a WAHLER one wiht serial 55203388 stamped on it...and that one was stacked on half way open....and during the winter the gauge never move...
now the main question is what brand of thermostat should i buy?
because with this number 55203388 i found several brands...even WAHLER and BEHR...
but which one is correct for sorting out the issue of late warming of the car...

thank you

[rwindmill]

Further to my post about ECP (EuroCarParts) thermostats. I have now replaced mine with a Wahler brand thermostat (part number: 55203388) and all is working perfectly. The car warms up to around 88°C within about 6 miles from start up, then drops a little as the thermostat opens, letting the cold water from the radiator in, then goes back up to 85°C and stays there. These readings on the sensor and the temp guage are identical.

The Wahler brand thermostat is the one supplied if you buy an original part from Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo or SAAB. I brought mine of eBay (there are plenty on there) as it was about £10 cheaper than the cheapest VX 'original' spare that i could find. The eBay price was actually half the price i was quoted when i rang my local VX dealer.

[rwindmill]

Interesting to hear im not the only one who has seen that particular issue with the ECP thermostats. The only problem you might face if you stick with the ECP thermostat is that the cars ECU will be adjusting its fuel and air ratios for the wrong engine temperature. Put basically, your car will constantly think your engine is still warming up, and may 'over-fuel' affecting your mpg.

For the sake of an hours effort and a fair amount of skin removal from your knuckles, i would recommend changing to a Wahler thermostat (par number 55203388) and get your engine running sweetly

[Maxim007]

thanks.
now i know what i need...
so a WAHLER THERMOSTAT with part number 55203388 will be fine for me...
because i tried to search at my local dealer this part number 55203388 and i found a couple brands of thermostats (WAHLER, BEHR, and also some others)...
but as WAHLER are equipping engine with thermostats, then i will buy a WAHLER one...

thank you.
P.S.
also my last BEHR which is now still on the engine is a bit tidy, IE as on clock it shows me 85 degrees, but in secret menu i see 89 degree...also when it is straight at 90 degree on clock, in secret menu it is 98 or so...
so there is a bit of tolerance between what is showing on clock, and what we really see in secret menu...
is this normal like this?
or this is also a bad point for this thermostat?

[Paul_284]

Diagnosed I need a new thermostat as mines gone, after picking my self off the floor after VX quoted me 80 quid just for the part!

I started looking around are the gates parts quality or do I need to splash out on a genuine part? Fed up of burning unnecessary fuel as it won't get over 70 degrees.

http://www.micksgarage.com/proddetai...34&carid=18131

[petrolcan]

I went for genuine from AutoVaux and haven't looked back.

http://www.autovaux.co.uk/product/95...-vauxhall.aspx

[Paul_284]

Cheers waiting for mine to arrive, do you know what size jubilee clips you need to replace the vauxhall only type clips?

[no1vic]

I bought a new Vauxhall thermostat unit but after seeing the hassle to change it at the time I did a quick repair thats been working now for the last two years....If you buy the thermostat for a Renault 5 as in this link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replacemen...item4d16ca2a8e
Pull the hose from the thermostat to radiator off, then put the new renault thermostat so its temperature sensing part is inside the original thermostat exit, Now push the radiator hose back on over the new thermostat and secure back in place. Tight fit and the hose holds the renault thermostat perfectly, five minute job and the engine and heater all work at the right temperature now :-)

[Addam]

@no1vic I did the same thing and bought a thermostat off ebay but it was a lot of a job to take the old one off and fit the new- ( I have Vectra 1.9 8V)-, so thanks to you, I went to eurocar parts and bought thermostat for volvo 340 and fitted outside the store just as you explained and it's working like a treat for only a £5 and 2 mins job