[MK2 Rev3 Turbo] Problem removing Dipstick guide bolt

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Over the weekend I set about removing the thermostat housing in order to replace my thermostat with a new one, as it's stuck open. After many forum posts having gone on about how some of the 10mm bolts on the thermostat housing were tricky to get off, I made sure I could loosen these before I set off to do the job.

However the dipstick guide is attached to the housing and needs to be removed so I can move the thermostat housing off. The 12mm bolt for this is prooving a right b****, and after using WD40, heat, an impact driver and even a crazy freezing product I am still at square one with this.

I've temporarily replaced the thermostat housing (which came out easily but only 1cm, providing a tempting view of the thermostat itself), refilled the cooland and the car is running, but still needs it's new thermostat. Before giving up I thought I'd see if anyone had any hints!

If it helps I'm accessing the thermostat from the top, after removing the inlet piping to the intercooler. Other than this bolt the rest was easy...

[raptor95GTS]

most folks I know that have done this did not remove the dipstick holder though I'm not sure how this was acheived

PM daveB as he has done this on his own car, my car decided to hold the thermostat bolts so we dumped it off to a garage

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Ta - will PM daveB.

Anyone else who has a solution is free to post a response in the meantime! I can't believe I spent my lunch break seriously considering several air powered impact wrenches...

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Fixed at last - indeed a dead easy job once I'd got the dipstick holder bolt undone.

In the end I added a couple of new tools to my arsenal, buying a new breaker bar, 1/2" extension rod and a 1/2" 12mm socket.

It does seem that whilst a bad workman can blame his tools, sometimes the right tools can make the job alot easier...

[raptor95GTS]

cool, glad you got it fixed. Yeah having the wrong tools makes a hard job darned expensive when you have to pay someone to fix the mess

[Hurstie1981]

Yeah the same bolt was a complete PITA when i was changing my thermostat. In the end i just used a long ratchet with a very long extension and it did the trick!
Once i got the bolt off though, i could only move the dip guide out of the way, it woudl not come out fully, or maybe i was doing somthing wrong?
The job was done in the end, and it now works with the new stat in place!
Its a good idea to have all the right tools before starting a job i guess!!