Engine cold, engine warm warning

[Bobrist]

Hi!

i wondering if someone can tell me how the cold engine and warm engine switch work.
i guess when engine is started the switch makes the cold engine lamp glow.
and after its heated up its stops. but when i read about the switch they just write 240-244 F
can someone tell me so i understand.

 

[celticwarlock]

The switch is closed when the engine is cold, allowing the "cold" light to come on. At a certain temperature, the connection inside the switch opens, which causes the light to go out. I can't say for sure, but I think the engine is at about 160 or 170 degrees when the "cold" light goes out.

If I am wrong, I'm sure someone will correct that.

 

[Dobalovr]

The switch is closed when the engine is cold, allowing the "cold" light to come on. At a certain temperature, the connection inside the switch opens, which causes the light to go out. I can't say for sure, but I think the engine is at about 160 or 170 degrees when the "cold" light goes out.

If I am wrong, I'm sure someone will correct that.

That is how both my '66 & 70 work. Seems right to me. Cold light goes out after approximately 5 min of warm up.

 

[saforwardlook]

And the flip side is that the hot lamp illuminates when the engine temperature exceeds 240F, and you are surely in trouble (I don't like to see temperatures in excess of 210 - 215F ever).

 

[bobfist]

Is it The same swich that makes The hot engine lamp glow also?
If so. How Does it work when The engine temp are ok?

 

[saforwardlook]

Is it The same swich that makes The hot engine lamp glow also?
If so. How Does it work when The engine temp are ok?

Yes, it is one switch threaded into the passenger side of the water pump housing on the top, and has two wires going to it with a round cap plug to fasten the wires to the switch. It does both operations - it both makes the hot lamp illuminate and operates the cold lamp too. GM used the same switch in their cars. There are thus two terminals on the top of the switch, and I believe there are two calibrated bi metal heating elements inside the switch that control which light is illuminated and at what temperature. It looks like this:

 

[live4theking]

Yes, it is one switch threaded into the passenger side of the water pump housing on the top, and has two wires going to it with a round cap plug to fasten the wires to the switch. It does both operations - it both makes the hot lamp illuminate and operates the cold lamp too. GM used the same switch in their cars. There are thus two terminals on the top of the switch, and I believe there are two calibrated bi metal heating elements inside the switch that control which light is illuminated and at what temperature. It looks like this:

This is how I thought that it should work, but I wasn't going to say that without being certain.