Perhaps - think I would "burp" it and see ... if you do take the tstat out again, try the hole drilling exercise - I think what it is doinig in a very rough way is smoothing out the tstat open/close movements ...

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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg