Re: Overheating Problem

[Cabell_T_Treadway@res.raytheon.com]

I also own a 97 GLX with what will very soon be 58k miles, and I've been having
the same problem for several months now.  I noticed my high speed fan was coming
on a lot, even during normal, low stress driving.  However, my thermostat gauge
has never worked very well, sometimes it works, a lot of times it just sits
there, not reading anything.  But once it started working again, it was spending
more and more time to the right of center.  I thought it was my thermostat, so I
bought a new one (pretty cheap part), but when I got out the Bentley and found
where the thermostat lives, decided that wasn't a Saturday afternoon project, at
least not for someone who doesn't normally do this for a living.  Getting to
that bloody part looked to be a huge pain in the rear.  So I flushed the
coolant, changed the oil, and things seemed to get a little better.  But lately
it's been back up approaching 230, like yours.  I still have the new thermostat,
but haven't had it put in yet.  If you find out what the problem with yours is,
I'd be very interested.

Cab
97glx
72bug



>Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 21:00:04 EDT
>From: VWNobby@aol.com
>Subject: Overheating problem

>I own a 97 Jetta GLX with 56,000 miles on it. About 3 months ago or so I
>noticed that the temperature gauge (coolant temp.) started to go past the
>center marker. At first it would only go a few degrees past the center mark.
>But lately it actually reaches up to 230 which is 3/4 of the way through.
>Usually I open the vents and have the heater on full blast to cool it down to
>the center point. But obviously that's a temporary fix. Today I noticed that
>the gauge reached about 220 then dropped to the center and then eventually
>went past 225, all within a 30 minute drive. Even at highway speed I have
>this problem. I have checked the coolant level and it is fine. Both the fans
>are constantly working, so I am pretty sure that isn't the problem. I
>installed a G-Chip about 3 months ago and I am wondering if that may be part
>of the problem (I would think that since there is more power coming from the
>engine it would tend to run hotter). Other possibilities that crossed my mind
>were the thermostat or the coolant pump, but how can I pin point the trouble
>spot. If anyone has run into a similar problem, please let me know. Any help
>would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure this problem can only be detrimental
>to the life of my car. Thanks in advance.

>Norberto Luis
>97 Jetta GLX
>Black