Worst bodge yet. I'm not proud of this one but it worked...

[Foeux]

Dear all,

For 5 years I had a v70 TDI that I liked very much indeed. It is now dead so i bought a V70 T5 (which I still need pics of).

It is a second hand car and I dont mind fettling so I understood there would be a few jobs for me to sink my teeth into.

- changed boot struts
- ongoing investigation of squealing brakes
- ongoing investigation as to why the rear wash and wipe half works and half doesnt
- pollen filter done

I am commuting daily in it and this means a significant change in lifestyle for the old girl. The thermostat stuck open so I popped to Euro car parts yesterday to source a replacement. Genuine would be best but couldn't get one on sat and don't like to run the thing cold all the time.

The outgoing thermostat was indeed stuck and pretty furred up; an original volvo item. In removing it, the gasket crumbled.

I opened the new 'Circoli@ thermostat to find the gasket was completely wrong, an o-ring instead of a rubber gutter into which the thermostat slips. Furthermore I noticed it didn't have a little wobbler valve to let air past.

Bugger - no gasket, broken thermostat, no transport for Monday. I cannibalised the gasket from my Peugeot 205 that had a new stat a month ago (it is off the road being worked on so no loss) and fitted it. It took in coolant, reached temp really quickly, heater blew hot, great. However, the top hose for the rad was only full of air, even at temp so I removed the new stat, burned my fingers, lost a little brand new coolant (changed at the same time) and drilled a 2mm hole in it for air bleeding.

It then 'swallowed' a load more cooant, top hose was nice and full when up to temp. Job done.

Does it matter that I bodged the wiggler valve? I will fit a genuine one either when you all tell me I am a lunatic or when this 'circoli' one breaks (had one in the 205 that did 9mths.

Cheers,

F.

[Tomoose]

It'll probably be just fine, but if it were me I'd still source a genuine one to fit in the not-too-distant future.

Well done for keeping it on the road though, sometimes you have to think outside the box.

[DaveNP]

2mm hole?! That's nothing
When I got my current V70 home it wasn't warming up properly so I investigated the thermostat, someone previously had taken out the thermostat and completely sawn away the actual working bit in order to leave just the rim and the gasket to seal the housing. The car ran well enough just never quite got up to full temp when driving.
The 2mm hole will allow some coolant to flow to the rad before the engine reaches normal operating temp but probably not enough to worry about, I'd be inclined to put it on the list of things to do when the sun shines.

[ksmi]

Just remember Foeux, bodging is 'A noble art' when 'you can't get the right bit' i.e if 'they are all closed', or if you are in the middle of nowhere!!! ask any bush mechanic. I am sure Green Van Man would agree. Keep up the good work! regards,Keith.

[doingitsideways]

If it works, it's not a bodge. Simple as that in my book.

Although - Circoli 'stats are cr@p, so stick a proper one in the boot for when it goes.

[mangobob]

Originally Posted by Foeux

Dear all,

For 5 years I had a v70 TDI that I liked very much indeed. It is now dead so i bought a V70 T5 (which I still need pics of).

It is a second hand car and I dont mind fettling so I understood there would be a few jobs for me to sink my teeth into.

- changed boot struts
- ongoing investigation of squealing brakes
- ongoing investigation as to why the rear wash and wipe half works and half doesnt
- pollen filter done

I am commuting daily in it and this means a significant change in lifestyle for the old girl. The thermostat stuck open so I popped to Euro car parts yesterday to source a replacement. Genuine would be best but couldn't get one on sat and don't like to run the thing cold all the time.

The outgoing thermostat was indeed stuck and pretty furred up; an original volvo item. In removing it, the gasket crumbled.

I opened the new 'Circoli@ thermostat to find the gasket was completely wrong, an o-ring instead of a rubber gutter into which the thermostat slips. Furthermore I noticed it didn't have a little wobbler valve to let air past.

Bugger - no gasket, broken thermostat, no transport for Monday. I cannibalised the gasket from my Peugeot 205 that had a new stat a month ago (it is off the road being worked on so no loss) and fitted it. It took in coolant, reached temp really quickly, heater blew hot, great. However, the top hose for the rad was only full of air, even at temp so I removed the new stat, burned my fingers, lost a little brand new coolant (changed at the same time) and drilled a 2mm hole in it for air bleeding.

It then 'swallowed' a load more cooant, top hose was nice and full when up to temp. Job done.

Does it matter that I bodged the wiggler valve? I will fit a genuine one either when you all tell me I am a lunatic or when this 'circoli' one breaks (had one in the 205 that did 9mths.

Cheers,

F.

Hi Foeux,

Just seen your fix list,that rear wiper issue maybe well be a broken wire in the loom.I had this problem on my V70 99',basically an intermittent fault when you switch on the wiper.Sometimes it worked,sometimes it didn't.Anyway a fatigued/broken wire was my problem and is located above the tailgate on the left bundled up with all the other wires.You would have seen these when you replaced your gas struts.I've not fixed the wire yet,it will require some careful soldering.

Hope this helps.

[volvoid]

Good tip !

well worth being ready to buy a thermostat from a proper make, Euros stuff is mostly cr*p