"catman" > wrote in message
...
> On 19/11/2010 11:33, GT wrote:
>> > wrote in message
>> eb.com...
>>> I completely forgot to ask them to change the thermostat at my last
>>> service. The temp gauge sits around or below 70 and should be at 90. In
>>> the
>>> recent cold weather, it has hardly gone over 65 and it takes about 20
>>> minutes before proper hot air comes through to the cabin. Its always
>>> been
>>> low, but it seems to be getting worse. The GT I had last month was warm
>>> within a few minutes and blowing hot air at me after about 3 miles!
>>>
>>> Mine's a 2002, 156 Petrol 2.0 JTS. Anyone know where the thermostat is
>>> and
>>> how easy the job is? Should I even consider changing it myself? I'm
>>> proficient with the spanner and screwdriver, but I won't go near
>>> anything
>>> critical - ie: if its in there with the timing belt and pump etc, then
>>> I'm
>>> not going there! If it is inline with the cooling pipes and radiator,
>>> then
>>> I'll consider it.
>>
>> In fact, is there an easy way of confirming that the thermostat is shot?
>>
>>
>
> Well your symptoms certainly match.
>
> You can feel the hoses as your car warms up. The outlet hose should get
> warm quite suddenly as the stat opens.
>
> The only sure fire way is to remove and test in hot water though...


My JTD m is doing the same, always has done, but the temp goes up if I give
it a good thrash.
If it's anything like the Landi diesel ( I know it isn't! ) they always ran
cool too.
The Alfa may have been designed to run in the high temperatures of Milan
with
heavy right footed Italian drivers round town so I'm not
surprised really. My heating is quite quick to cut in though, blowing warm
within a mile or two.

Is yours petrol GT?

TonyB