odd temperature readings?

[future]

hi, when running my car it seems to take aaages to warm up and when it does if im driving it will only reach about 70-80deg...only if i sit it running for about 5-10mins will it hit 90 but then when i drive it again it drops??? anyone know what this could be?

thanks

 

[funnyclub]

I only bought mine the other day and I noticed the temp reading only went up to 1/4 way when in most cars I have had have gone half way. The other day I took the coolant cap off and back on since I did that its going up to half way as normal. Maybe do the same it could be air locked or something.

 

[s3 Hoggy]

99% stat 1% temp sender

 

[s3 Hoggy]

Cost me under £100 to have this issue fixed by a VAG specialist with genuine parts (thermostat and temp sender)

 

[future]

thanks for the replies! and on thermostat stuff i saw awesome do a 180deg thermostat is it worth doing that or just good old vag parts?? and will this damage my engine at all?

thanks

 

[nath-w]

My s3 done this when i first bought. I bought a new thermostat which cost me around a tenner, fitted it myself, which took about an hour as its quite a fiddely job. This solved the problem as after i changed thermostat, temp would sit at 90 constantly!

 

[s3_stig]

Where abouts is the thermostat can't find it

 

[nath-w]

right at front of engine, just behind and to the left of the dipstick! Be careful when going near the dipstick guide as these get brittle, and snap quite easily, which i unfortunately found out when i changed the stat!

 

[s3_stig]

Ok thanks I'm gona have a look tomorrow hopefully have a go at changing it my self