oskarscholz85

Seat Arosa Diesel Overheating Issue

Hi, I'm having some trouble with my 2003 Seat Arosa (diesel engine) with 129607 km on the clock. The engine is overheating, and it takes ages to reach operating temperature. From what I've read, it might be a defective map thermostat. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, could this also cause a coolant system problem or a coolant leak? What am I looking at in terms of repair costs?

4 comment(s)

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my Seat Ibiza (same diesel engine). The symptoms sound very familiar. Have you checked for any coolant leak around the thermostat housing? Also, is your cooling fan running constantly, even when the engine is cold?

Thanks for the quick response! I haven't noticed any obvious coolant leak, but I'll definitely take a closer look tomorrow. As for the cooling fan, I haven't really paid attention to whether it's running constantly. Where exactly is the thermostat housing located?

Okay, so no obvious leak is good (for now!). The thermostat housing is usually located where the upper radiator hose connects to the engine. Since you're not sure about the fan, that's another clue pointing towards the thermostat. In my case, it was the map thermostat causing all the trouble. If you're not comfortable diagnosing it yourself, I'd recommend taking it to a workshop. They can properly test the thermostat and cooling system. It could be a simple fix, but overheating can cause serious engine damage if left unchecked.

Just a note that I took your advice and brought my Arosa to the shop. It was indeed the thermostat, as you suspected! Total cost was around 350€, a bit steep, but at least it's fixed. Thanks again for your help!

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