hex bolt size

[catfishunter]

Hey guy's and thank's for all the help and great info!!! I was wondering if anyone would happen to know the size of the hex bolts on the housing to change the thermostat. I'm still kinda of intimidated on doing this job. 95 2.8 v6 passat.

[boschmann]

It's 5 or 6mm.

[catfishunter]

Thanks...would anyone happen to have or know somewhere I can look online for a diagram showing the location of the thermosat? I've got a Mitchell manual compilation set CD program but it's almost completely useless to me right now as it doesn't have many pictures/diagrams.
I'm trying to take off housing that was connected to the motor where the upper hose is located. I'm having trouble separating the housing from the motor. I think I may have stripped out one of the cap screws that attach the housing to the motor. I'm hoping I'll be able to simply undo the parts of the housing that the thermostat sets in. How many cap screws are on the underside of the housing (the ones that are upside down) holding the theromstat in (that would make it split apart)? I've found two, one of which it darn near impossible to get to.

Thanks!

[boschmann]

It's easiest to remove the whole housing (3 pieces) from the head together. I believe there are only three bolts holding it on. It has an o-ring that seals it to the plastic pipe piece, be caeful as it's easy to break the pipe. Each of the other two sub-flanges have two bolts holding them on. My advice is to get all three pieces & all new o-rings, VW is fairly reasonable price-wise.

[catfishunter]

Well guy's i think i might be screwed;Couldn't get to all the bolts out one was stripped.Had the car towed to the dealer this morning.Just got off the phone with them;They got the bolts out and got everything back together;They tried to start it;It wouldn't and there's like a puffing sound when you crank it over.Dealer said there might be a compression problem.So i'm thinking i cheesed a head gasket.He said they will call in the morning when they know for sure. Mike

[catfishunter]

Got the car back a week later;Replaced thermostat housing a valve cover gasket-wires-serp belt-tow$797.50.

[veedubmechanic]

Sounds about right.!

[catfishunter]

Yea;atleast hopefully i wont have to deal with the car mechanically for awhile.Yesterday after leaving a grocery store i noticed someone stole the vw symbol off the hatch on my wagon.