96 jetta 2.0l still overheating

When water heats fast the temperature must be checked independently to eliminate possible electrical problems with the gauge or sender.

If the coolant really is getting too hot too fast a restricted coolant circulation should be suspected. Thermostat is the most likely cause of low or zero coolant circulation but other sorts of blockage are possible and it has been known for the water pump impeller to fall off the shaft or to break up., though these things are rare. I don't advocate suspecting this unless there really is no flow and this is best checked by disconnecting a heater hose.

A restricted air flow through the radiator or the cooling fan not working would probably cause overheating but that tends to take longer and be unremarkable in the speed of overheating.

It is possible for a leaking cylinder head gasket to pressurise the cooling system and displace coolant and disrupt the thermostat operation.

Sounds like you got a bad thermostat.

CHECK TO SEE IF BOTH COOLING FANS RUNNING ARE RUNNING WHEN ENGINE RUNNING START OVERHEATING IF COOLING FANS NOT WORKING CHECK COOLING FANS LARGE FUSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR YOU COULD FAULTY COOLING FANS THERMO SWITCH BOTTOM LEFT SIDE OR RADIATOR.IF COOLING FANS IS WORKING WHILE ENGINE RUNNING.RADIATOR CORES AND HEATER CORE COULD BE CLOGGED.COOLANT SYSTEM NEED FLUSHING. THE THERMOSTAT PARTIALLY CLOSED CAUSE ENGINE OVER HEAT.CHECK WATERPUMP WEEP HOLE IF LEAKING WATER PUMP NEED REPLACING.

Overheating can seriously damage a car's engine if left unchecked. Although overheating simply means that a car's engine temperature exceeds normal operating temperatures, the causes of overheating are varied. What follows is a brief list of some of the most common causes of engine overheating.

Faulty Radiator
1. A car that overheats will often have a faulty radiator. A radiator is responsible for cooling hot engine coolant that picks up heat from inside a car's running engine. A radiator "radiates" the heat from engine coolant out into the outside air. A faulty radiator loses its "radiating" effects and allows engine coolant to become overheated, thus rendering it ineffective at adequately cooling and engine.
Faulty Water Pump
2. A faulty or malfunctioning water pump prevents adequate engine coolant flow and can cause a car to overheat. A water pump serves to pressurize and propel engine coolant throughout a car's engine and radiator to increase the heat-reducing capabilities of engine coolant. A faulty water pump loses its ability to adequately pump and propel engine coolant, and can cause a car to overheat.
Coolant System Leaks
3. A leaky engine coolant system reduces the level of circulating engine coolant, which increases engine temperature and leads to engine overheating. Radiators, water pumps, and coolant system hoses and seals--all of these coolant system parts can develop leaks, which can result in low coolant levels and engine overheating.
Faulty Thermostat
4. A car thermostat regulates the flow of engine coolant. A thermostat is a heat-sensitive valve that opens when a car engine reaches a set operating temperature and closes when a car engine is cold and warming up. If a thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, coolant will be prevented from reaching the engine, which will quickly lead to engine overheating and potential engine damage.
Low Engine Oil Level
5. Engine oil, in addition to lubricating an engine's internal parts, helps to keep engine operating temperatures reduced by eliminating friction within the engine. If engine oil levels are low, friction and heat build up inside an engine, a condition that causes increased engine operating temperatures and can lead to engine overheating.

CHECK COOLANT LEVEL IN RADIATOR. BUT WAIT UNTIL THE ENGINE COOL DOWN. CHECK WATER PUMP.IF YOU SEE COOLANT LEAKING FROM WEEP HOLE REPLACE WATER PUMP. REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP WHEN CAR OVERHEATING IF CAR AT A STANDSTILL IN LONG TRAFFIC LINE OR MOVING SLOWLY.COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAULTY.NOT TURNING ON COOLANT FAN.CHECK COOLANT FAN FUSE AND RELAY.IF ALL IS GOOD.HOTWIRE COOLANT FAN.IF COOLANT FAN DONT COME ON FAN MOTOR FAULTY.IF FAN COMES ON CHECK ELECTRICAL WIRE CONNECTOR FOR DAMAGE WIRES.

Then replace the thermostat, because if on lower hose not hot and on upper hose scalding hot = antifreeze flow blocked by the thermostat wich remains closed!!!

Thermostat replacing:

thermostat replace temp sensor its cheap i hope your water pump is not bad you could mess engine up if you keep on running car and is overheating.

there is sensor in the bottom off the rad that controls the cooling fan is it operating kdc744

1 Inspect Cooling System Mix Coolant level low or flow is restricted. 2 Inspect Belt Incorrectly routed, adjusted, tensioned, missing, or worn water pump belt(s). 3 Inspect Oil Pan Gasket - Performance Ruptured, cracked or leaking radiator hose. 4 Inspect Radiator Cap Worn or damaged radiator cap 5 Inspect Thermostat Thermostat stuck closed 6 Inspect Fan Blade Broken, missing, or defective fan blade(s). 8 Inspect Water Pump Damaged, worn or leaking water pump. 9 Inspect Intake Manifold Plenum - Perform Leaking water pump gasket. 10 Inspect Cooling Fan Control Faulty cooling fan control or circuit. 11 Inspect Cooling Fan Switch - Radiator Faulty radiator cooling fan switch or circuit. 12 Inspect Engine Temperature Sensor Faulty engine temperature sensor or circuit. 13 Inspect Temperature Switch Damaged or faulty temperature switch or temperature switch circuit. 14 Inspect Fan Clutch Worn, loose or faulty fan clutch. 15 Inspect Ported Vacuum Switch Damaged, leaking, or faulty ported vacuum switch. 16 Inspect Radiator Obstructed radiator core or radiator cooling fins. 17 Inspect Head Gasket - Performance Head gasket leaking coolant into cylinders

Below u will find Auto zone list for reason ur car can over heat Shaun Inspect Cooling System Mix Coolant level low or flow is restricted. 2 Inspect Belt Incorrectly routed, adjusted, tensioned, missing, or worn water pump belt(s). 3 Inspect Oil Pan Gasket - Performance Ruptured, cracked or leaking radiator hose. 4 Inspect Radiator Cap Worn or damaged radiator cap 5 Inspect Thermostat Thermostat stuck closed 6 Inspect Fan Blade Broken, missing, or defective fan blade(s). 8 Inspect Water Pump Damaged, worn or leaking water pump. 9 Inspect Intake Manifold Plenum - Perform Leaking water pump gasket. 10 Inspect Cooling Fan Control Faulty cooling fan control or circuit. 11 Inspect Cooling Fan Switch - Radiator Faulty radiator cooling fan switch or circuit. 12 Inspect Engine Temperature Sensor Faulty engine temperature sensor or circuit. 13 Inspect Temperature Switch Damaged or faulty temperature switch or temperature switch circuit. 14 Inspect Fan Clutch Worn, loose or faulty fan clutch. 15 Inspect Ported Vacuum Switch Damaged, leaking, or faulty ported vacuum switch. 16 Inspect Radiator Obstructed radiator core or radiator cooling fins. 17 Inspect Head Gasket - Performance Head gasket leaking coolant into cylinders