Crossland coolant themostat failure?

[scm924s]

Anyone had problems with engine coolant temperature struggling to get of the bottom of the gauge? In normal running around town the pointer stays resolutely on the bottom stop, only after about a 12/15 mile drive does it eventually approach the 90deg mark. As a result the cabin heater is pretty inneffective.

A reasonably informed guess by me (a lifetime classic car owner) suggests a thermostat fail, which on my classics is a £10 and hours job. A search on line seems to indicate that the Crossland thermostat is a comprehensive assemblage at around £120. and as far as I can tell is hidden under the inlet manifold, so much for progress!

Booked to go into the local stealers next week, not looking forward to the eventual bill, unless anyone has some helpful suggestions.

[Vauxhall Owners Club]

It may be the gauge is not too accurate rather than an issue with the engine temperature failing to get to the normal operating temperature.
I would personally invest in an infra-red temperature gun (circa £20) and measure different parts of the engine as it heats up and then you'll know whether there is a fault (stuck thermostat) or whether the gauge is just there for effect

[scm924s]

I think if it were a faulty gauge, the cabin heating would not be struggling to get past luke warm.Until very recently car has reached operating temperature very quickly together with a toasty heater.

[scm924s]

Car spent all day at local Stealers, had a full diagnostic check, and reported that everything is OK!! Car still will not achieve normal operating temperature of 90 deg! Words fail me