This is where some trouble shooting skills and equipment comes inot play. If
you are getting good heat, than most likely the enigne is getting up to
temparatire and you may have a gauge problem. The gauget itself, the voltage
regulator for the gauge, the sensor, and the wiring to the guage and sensor
are all possiblities for gauge failure or bad readings. The gauge itself can
fail and it is also adjustable. On the 2wd drive vans, a bad ground
connection can also give a bad guage reading. Of the 2 wires going to the
sensor, one is the rturn for the guage and the other is ground. Do some
evaluation, get an infrared thermometer and figure what is really wrong.
Also, where di you get the thermostat? Many books list Audi t-stats as being
the correct one. The lower disc is too large and it get stuck in the bottom
of the Vanagon housing jamming it open.

Dennis

>From: David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
>Reply-To: David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Changed thermostat - temp gauge still reads stone cold
>Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:15:16 -0800
>
>I went on the first extended test drive today after
>replacing my thermostat. The temperature gauge still
>does not move above the lowest thick bar. If anything,
>it's worse than it was before. Is it possible the
>replacement thermostat was bad (it was a brand new
>Behr)? Or, is it possible there is some other problem?
>The van drives well and puts out lots of heat from the
>vents. The fan is not running. I hate to think I'm
>damaging the engine.
>
>David ('87 Wolfsburg 2.1 auto)
>
>
>
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