Replacing thermostat

[reeves190]

hey guys, so apparently i need a new thermostat in my 2006 passat 2.0. dealer says it takes 3 hours and cost $500 bucks. i remember putting a thermostat in a american car. it was like $20 bucks and took 5 min.
do you know it the dealer is pulling my leg? thanks

[najel]

The part is around $60 I think (plus new coolant as it has to be drained) and the job should 1-2 hrs. So that price seems slughtly excessive, but you would be looking at 150 to 300 I think realistically.

[chc-rado]

3 hours sound right. if not try it yourself. I hope have the tools and knowledge. I have done 5 of them. You have remove the alternator, boost hose and tube, and some bolts that holds the coolant pipe to metal bracket. Drain and fill coolant system. Restore electrical power. Clear all faults and possible set readiness. I would also replace both ect sensors too. Average time for thermostat replacement at dealer level is 4 hours. This ain't your American car your driving. German plastic engineering.

[milanzio]

got any pics?

[Tutti57]

I did mine recently and it sucks but it's not that bad. It's certainly better than paying for it if you have the ability to do it yourself. The worst part is just wrestling the hoses and hose clamps.

[Tutti57]

Here is an older thread that talks about it a little bit.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...tat&p=76421188

[milanzio]

so there are 2 ect's in this vehicle? one by the high pressure fuel pump and the other is where? also is it hard to put the timing belt back on?

[Tutti57]

Yes there two of them. It's not hard to put the belt back on. It is not the timing belt so you just put it back on the same way it came off. There is a tensioner pulley that you release pressure with like most cars.

[rdjr74]

The worst part is just wrestling the hoses and hose clamps.

Couldn't agree more!

[milanzio]

got ya. so it's not hard just time consuming!

[Tutti57]

Yeah that's how most things are. I had a friend over to help kill the time and when I got tired of trying to work a hose off I had him try. We sort of rotated on and off to ease the frustration.

[quick4door]

Book time is 2.3 hours, thermostat assembly is $45 retail from VW. Just fyi. Based on $100 hourly rate, that comes to just shy of $300.

[passatattack]

So I have a 2007 V6 Passat Wagon 4-motion. Thermostat went. Dealer wants nearly $600. I like them, but I always feel like I'm getting ripped off. Can't do it myself (combination female and clueless) so I don't have much of a choice. Any other options?

[cameron2pt5]

Can't do it myself (combination female and clueless) so I don't have much of a choice. Any other options?

Yes. Phone a good independent shop that specializes in VWs. You should be able to get a quote over the phone that beats $600 easily!

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk 2

[jbyronr]

On the 2.8V6 in your '07 Passat, the thermostat is under the timing belt. If you're going to do the thermostat, you should consider the whole bag, including the timing belt and water pump....

[passatattack]

On the 2.8V6 in your '07 Passat, the thermostat is under the timing belt. If you're going to do the thermostat, you should consider the whole bag, including the timing belt and water pump....

It's actually the 3.6 liter V6, not sure that makes a difference. They did tell me they had to remove a lot to get to the thermostat, and I've been going to these same guys for 10 years (had a W8 Passat wagon previously). They do take good care of the customers (I have a brand new Passat as a loaner car), but it sure does feel like a lot of money, all the time. Even if the labor is $100 and hour, it's not like this is going to take 5 hours. I guess I'm just frustrated.

[passatattack]

Yes. Phone a good independent shop that specializes in VWs. You should be able to get a quote over the phone that beats $600 easily!

Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk 2

My ex has a VW eurovan, and he brought it to the local independent shop that specializes in VW, and they messed up a bunch of stuff. Not sure Im willing to chance it. They just seemed clueless, and they had to redo something that immediately broke when he drove out.

If he hadn't had that experience, I would have considered going there!

[azunderg]

hey guys, so apparently i need a new thermostat in my 2006 passat 2.0. dealer says it takes 3 hours and cost $500 bucks. i remember putting a thermostat in a american car. it was like $20 bucks and took 5 min.
do you know it the dealer is pulling my leg? thanks

that's what it cost me

2006 mk5 GTI.

[azunderg]

hey guys, so apparently i need a new thermostat in my 2006 passat 2.0. dealer says it takes 3 hours and cost $500 bucks. i remember putting a thermostat in a american car. it was like $20 bucks and took 5 min.
do you know it the dealer is pulling my leg? thanks

that's what it cost me.

2006 mk5 GTI.