'01 Jetta VR6 overheat

[jl_tulane]

Hello all,
I am posting for a friend with a 2001 Jetta VR6. He has had multiple enigne problems before, some of which we fixed, others had to be dealer fixes.
Yesterday on the way home from work, the engine began to overheat, and the air conditioner stopped blowing cold air. He pulled over and waited for it to cool down and drove it the rest of the way home. We took a look at it and the compressor is definitely turning on, the fans come on at idle, but kick off during normal driving. They do not seem to come back on after the car has been parked and idling for a while.
The really strange thing is that the AC and engine overheat seem to coincide. We are debating whether this may be some switch turning the fan(s) on/off or whether maybe the thermostat is bad or going bad.
If anyone has any advice or insight, it would be helpful and appreciated. Or if you recommend we just take it to a mechanic shop and let them deal with it let me know if that is what you think.

[veedubmechanic]

sounds like the thermostat is bad, very common on vr6 engines. I would reccomend replacing the thermostat and housing and all associated o-rings (along with ect because its right there and also a common problem).

99-01 also known for fan control modules (located under the battery have to remove it from under the car)
Water pumps are a known problem also but i would think its a thermostat before a water pump. Water pumps normally go bad on vr6 at higher mileage 70k plus.

[jl_tulane]

So we replaced the thermostat this weekend and still no A/C and still overheating.
How difficult is this fan control module to get to? Is it as bad as the thermostat, which was a real pain in the butt?
Is there any place we can get one for less than 200 bucks?
Finally, are there any other possibilities anyone can think of besides the fan control module or the water pump?
Thanks for the help.

[veedubmechanic]

considering the fans dont turn on when the ac is turned on It would habve to be electrical related. (fan module, fan motors, fan thermoswitch.) ALso did you replace the ect when you replaced the thermostat? the new style is green and its on the end of the thermostat housing.