[cfig21]

Yesterday morning I was leaving the house to go to work and my CEL came on so at lunch I took it Advance Auto and they cleared the P0128 code since the car was so new and it was acting strange but on my way home last night around 11pm it came back up. I took it to the dealer this morning and they said they ordered a new thermostat even though mine was working due to a "software incompatibility" but they assured me the car would be fine to drive around like normal and just keep an eye on the temp gauge just in case. The codes it threw according to the service guy were U0322-82 and P0128.

 

[MotoPete]

This is the second thermostat related post I've seen. Did you also post the first?

 

[RBH58]

One to keep an eye out for. I drove my Megane for 6 months before I realised that it was operating well below normal operating temperature most of the time. Stuck open. Faulty thermostat.

 

[kpoling]

This is the second thermostat related post I've seen. Did you also post the first?

I made the other thermostat post. It took until THIS week for the part to come in and I just had the thermostat replaced Monday. The dealer said that the manufacturer told them this problem has been coming up elsewhere and instructed them to return the thermostat to them so that they can determine what is going wrong.

 

[jonesthestress]

I made the other thermostat post. It took until THIS week for the part to come in and I just had the thermostat replaced Monday. The dealer said that the manufacturer told them this problem has been coming up elsewhere and instructed them to return the thermostat to them so that they can determine what is going wrong.

I have wondered about that because the operating range on the gauge is very small (solid bar part) and makes it very difficult to discern between 70C and 90C which would be where normal operating temp would usually be.

 

[cfig21]

I made the other thermostat post. It took until THIS week for the part to come in and I just had the thermostat replaced Monday. The dealer said that the manufacturer told them this problem has been coming up elsewhere and instructed them to return the thermostat to them so that they can determine what is going wrong.

Kind of sucks to see someone else having the same issue but at least this will help determine what the issue is and hopefully it won't keep happening. Has this new part fixed the issue for you by chance?

 

[kpoling]

So far it seems okay. But the original took a couple of weeks before it started failing.

 

[cfig21]

So far it seems okay. But the original took a couple of weeks before it started failing.

That's true as it took 1500 miles for mine to start failing. Today is a little warmer outside and the CEL went away and hasnt come back up today.

 

[oliverpull]

I had a CEL today at 2200 miles. When it came on the blue temp light had gone off, but the temp gauge needle hadn't moved much toward the 210° mark, where it usually sits. I came to a stop at an intersection and when I accelerated away the needle moved at once further up the scale toward 210°. I suspected a thermostat problem and it was confirmed when I put a code reader on and got the message "Engine coolant temperature below thermostat operating temperature." The the service department at a dealer in Tacoma told me they would have to confirm the condition before they ordered the part under warranty. That means two four hour round trips for the simple repair. However, the parts department (a separate phone line and evidently, a separate operating philosophy) agreed to order it for me and give me a call when it comes in. A mixed experience at my first service episode!

 

[DanRodemsky]

Mine also had the thermostat code. The dealer reset it and sent me on my way. They said if it happens again they will replace the thermostat. 1000 miles later and nothing to report.

 

[Joe M]

Had the thermostat code at about 850 miles. Dealer ordered new one and said it was ok to drive until part came in, which took about a week. Replaced thermostat. I have noticed that the blue light goes out sooner than it did before the thermostat was replaced. Also seems to get to operating temp sooner.

 

[oliverpull]

Had the thermostat code at about 850 miles. Dealer ordered new one and said it was ok to drive until part came in, which took about a week. Replaced thermostat. I have noticed that the blue light goes out sooner than it did before the thermostat was replaced. Also seems to get to operating temp sooner.

That is good news. I am waiting for a thermostat after having gone to the dealer for a CEL. On my first trip they did a flash update which took out the CEL, but my slow warm up continued. The tech thought it was probably normal. In a week the CEL came back on. I reported this by phone; "we are still waiting for the thermostat." The next week the CEL went off and has stayed off, but the blue light typically needs 10 minutes and five miles to expire, and full temperature doesn't come until 20 minutes and 10 miles have passed. Too long. I am glad to hear that the new thermostat has made more of a difference than just extinguishing the CEL.

 

[AmishPoint]

My CEL came on this morning...........

..........on the way to work. I have about a 20 minute drive to work. Outside temperature was about 43 or so in Houston. It seemed like it took longer for the temp gauge to go up a little and the blue light to turn off. Soon after the blue light went off the CEL came on. Just went to check it at lunch and it is still on. Called the studio and am taking it in after work.

 

[AmishPoint]

Follow up

Got to the service department and the tech plugged his computer in and couldn't find anything wrong with it even thought the CEL light was on. Left it there from Friday evening to Monday evening and they reset it and couldn't "duplicate" (I believe is what my service statement says) the issue.

 

[oliverpull]

As I reported above, my CE light came on at about 2000 miles. Went to dealer with a code regarding thermostat at low operating temperature; the ECU was flashed and the code disappeared. But the light came on again within 100 miles, then went off for a while, then came on again. All the time, with ambient temps at around 40°, it has taken 10 minutes for the blue light to expire and 20-30 minutes to come up to operating temp. The tech ordered a new thermostat and I'm going in on Tuesday next week to have it replaced. I don't think the fault readouts on this are reliable (they are on and off) so the failure to "duplicate" the condition means nothing. What does mean something (if it is trusted) is your temperature gauge, and if it takes half an hour to reach operating temperature, something is not right with the thermostat. It sounds like it is opening up too soon. I will give a report after the fix. KPoling and JoeM have had no trouble with the CEL since their thermo was replaced.

 

[AmishPoint]

The tech stated that they "tested" the thermostat and found it worked properly. They then kept the car so they could drive it in the morning to see if it would happen again. Didn't happen. I am keeping a watch on the thermostat to see what happens the next couple of weeks.

 

[PureAdrenaline]

Sounds like an issue that they need to start investigating at a higher level than the technician...

 

[oliverpull]

The tech stated that they "tested" the thermostat and found it worked properly. They then kept the car so they could drive it in the morning to see if it would happen again. Didn't happen. I am keeping a watch on the thermostat to see what happens the next couple of weeks.

I think the best test is to watch how long it takes for the engine to come up to operating temp (when the needle moves to just beneath 200°). Mine is taking twice as long as the two diesel-engined cars I own, both of which have a lot more cold iron to warm up (albeit higher combustion temperatures). I think 20-30 minutes in 40° is too long to run the little Fiat cold.

 

[JFernald]

I think the best test is to watch how long it takes for the engine to come up to operating temp (when the needle moves to just beneath 200°). Mine is taking twice as long as the two diesel-engined cars I own, both of which have a lot more cold iron to warm up (albeit higher combustion temperatures). I think 20-30 minutes in 40° is too long to run the little Fiat cold.

It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. I haven't timed it, but I know how long it takes to get to the grocery store, and the light is always off before I get there.

 

[sharkcohen]

The tech stated that they "tested" the thermostat and found it worked properly. They then kept the car so they could drive it in the morning to see if it would happen again. Didn't happen. I am keeping a watch on the thermostat to see what happens the next couple of weeks.

Did they remove the thermostat to test it? I think it would be silly for them to go through the trouble of removing it and not outright replacing it. This makes me wonder what they did to "test" it. It makes sense to me to just replace the thermostat under these circumstances. I can't stand dealer service centers sometimes.