How about do you have the correct thermostat? A number of books list a VW or
audi stat that is very similar in appearance. Unfortuantely, the lower
bypass disc is the wrong diameter-too large. It gets wedged in the opening
when it opens holding it so it will not close. As for backwards instalation,
does not fit and if it did, it would never open since the hot coolant will
not reach the expansion bulb.

Dennis

>From: Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
>Reply-To: Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Thermostat woes--or--?
>Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:23:11 -0400
>
>Also, it goes away after you drive it a while in conditions that warm the
>engine more, like idling or driving around town.
>
>However--get this--I just talked to a vendor, who asked me, "Is it in the
>right way?"  His idea was that if you put the thermostat in backwards, or
>upside down, then the coolant pressure from the pump would force it open,
>causing this problem of overcooling.
>
>Do they fit in backwards in the 1.9?
>
>How else could you explain the phenomenon that the t-stat opens in hot
>water, closes normally, but sticks open in the car? Also, at idle, the
>water
>pump pressure would be less, perhaps allowing the thermostat to close.
>
>OK, guys, I need to read "Thermostats for Dummies."