WesM951

Hey guys,
Got a quick question.

After driving my car for a while the fans stay on for 2-3min after I shut the car off. Its starting to worry me. The engine never goes over that first bar, so i'm assumming it's not getting that hott. Is this normal or should i really be worried?

Chris Prack

Don't worry it's normal. The cooling fan switch will run the fans until the radiator cools enough to turn off the switch. Typically 2-3 min. as your car is doing.

WesM951

Hey chris,
Thanks! I just wanted to make sure it was'nt getting to hot. Is it very hard to change the thermostat in one? I'm doing an oil change soon and figured I mise well change all the fluids while i'm at it.

Chris Prack

The t-stat in our cars is a perfect example of fine german engineering.

Changing one would give you a warm and fuzzy feeling all over when done!!

Sami951

Yep, completely normal... try getting the temps high up sometime and watch the fans blow even longer

WesM951

I take it that its going to be hell changin the thermostat?

pete944

It's easier to buy a new t-stat, snapring, and waterpump and change it as an assembly.
I never understood why they put such a heavy duty snapring in there.

WesM951

Well.. I guess I better start pricing one, I bet were looking at upwords of $100 huh

EDIT: Auto-Zone wants $216 + $40 core. Used one on ebay for $35 atm.

rhesus

You may not want to go thru all that work just to put in a used one, though

indiana_86_944_turbo

if it is not getting above the first mark i would not worry about the stat.mine was running at the 3rd mark so i just bit the bullet and changed the stat.took me about 4 hours but it lowered the temp to the middle of the first and second mark.

TonyG

normal. nothing to worry about.

Jaak Lepson

I would worry if it didn't stay on for a minute. It is normal and helps cool the engine down. You may also be hearing the turbo water pump stay on for about a half minute. If you don't, check/change it.

The waterpump and thermostat sounds like they are OK if the temp gauge is not in the red. You may want to change them when you do the belt.

It seems that the new thermostats are a bit hotter than the older ones and will cause your temp to go to the second mark.

Jaak Lepson

TurboTime

If yours are running, I trade you for one that doesn't ;o)

I overheated 2 weeks ago climbing Mt. Whitney. Found out later one of my fans was out. PITA to change. Had to drop the A/C compressor to get the fan assembly out.
Greg