Temp gauge - over heating

I have a 2000 Passat which I inherited. It has been in and out of garage too many times to count but drives well. The continuing problem is the temp gauge which rises to alarming levels and then subsides to mid point. In order to keep it at mid point most of the time and prevent over-heating, I have to leave the heater fan on high and the temperature set on high for front window defrost. I am melting in the car, obviously, so need to keep the windows open to survive !

I've had the car serviced....ie: flushed radiator, changed sensor, changed thermostat, changed coolant, etc. The list is endless and the costs have been enormous. Now the garage wants to change my fuel pump for mucho dineros !!! Yesterday, someone told me about a solution to the problem but I hope someone on this forum can advise if there is any truth to it or not.

I was told to jack up the front end of the car, open the cap to the coolant reservoir, start the engine and let it run about 5 minutes and top off the coolant as needed during that time. Apparently this will eliminated an 'air lock' ?????

Help please !

Have you driven this car a lot since the problem but no change right?

so burping the car is not going to work as the car would have already cleared.
One more Q is you coolant bottle full when you start car? if so there is no air in the system.

if you have changed out t-stat and sender and coolant flush.

What are the cooling fans doing

there are two one is elecrtic the other is a viscus clutch type that uses heat.
if the radiator is pluged around or the area that the thermal clutch need that heat from the radiator.
you can check you elecrtic fan by turning on the A/C the fan should come right on if not there is a problem.

last thing that it can be is a bad water pump.
the impeller is made of plastic and could be slipping on the shaft not moving coolant fast enough thru the engine.

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Thanks for the advice. All the things you mentioned have been looked at without success, EXCEPT for the last one. My garage will change the water pump and we'll see if this is the bug.

Appreciate your help.

Any time

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