I'm pulling my hair out here! My 2009 Seat Exeo, diesel engine is giving me grief. It's overheating, and it takes ages to reach normal operating temperature. I'm thinking it's the thermostat cooling circuit motor, probably a defective map thermostat, from what I've read. Before I start tearing things apart, has anyone else had this? I am expecting to pay around 350€ to fix this. Any thoughts before I dive in?

Seat Exeo Overheating

Sounds familiar. I had a similar issue with my Exeo. Overheating and slow warm-up times are classic signs. Have you checked the thermostat housing for any signs of a coolant leak? Also, is the cooling fan kicking in properly?

Cheers for the quick reply! I did a visual inspection, and I didn't spot any obvious coolant leak around the thermostat housing, but it's a bit tight in there. How can I be absolutely sure about the cooling fan? It does kick in eventually, but I am not sure if it's at the correct temperature.

Yeah, the fan should kick in well before it overheats. If it's only coming on when the temp gauge is way up, that's a problem. Honestly, given the symptoms and your mileage, it's almost certainly the map thermostat. I'd say bite the bullet and get it replaced. Trying to diagnose it further might just waste your time. A garage can pressure test the system after to check for any other issues with the water pump.

Massive thanks for the confirmation! Took it to a trusted mechanic, and you called it – map thermostat was shot. New thermostat, coolant flush, and a pressure test just to be sure. All in, hit me for 350€. Ouch, but at least the Exeo is running cool (literally) again. Appreciate the quick diagnosis!