Cold start light?

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Aug 18, 2004

• #1

OK, probably the first of many, here goes...

Series 2a 2¼ petrol. There is a yellow warning light in the speedo labelled
"cold start". It's off when the engine is cold, but comes on when the
engine gets fully warm. I've checked the wiring diagram, and the earth for
the lamp goes through a switch (1), then through another switch (2) to
earth. I'm guessing now*, but switch (1) must be on the choke cable
(continuity when choke is pulled out) and switch (2) is a temp sensor on the
engine (continuity when the engine is warm). The result being that it warns
you if the engine is warmed up and the choke is still out. However, switch
(1) on the choke is faulty (i.e. permanently on), giving the symptoms above.
(I'm guessing because a quick check in the p*ssing rain revealed neither a
switch on the choke cable nor a likely-looking sensor on the head.)

Am I there, or nearly there, or is it something else entirely?

*No owner's handbook, and Haynes is silent on the subject.

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

 

S

SimonJ

Guest

• Aug 18, 2004

• #2

> Series 2a 2¼ petrol. There is a yellow warning light in the speedo
labelled
> "cold start". It's off when the engine is cold, but comes on when the
> engine gets fully warm. I've checked the wiring diagram, and the earth
for
> the lamp goes through a switch (1), then through another switch (2) to
> earth. I'm guessing now*, but switch (1) must be on the choke cable
> (continuity when choke is pulled out) and switch (2) is a temp sensor on
the
> engine (continuity when the engine is warm). The result being that it
warns
> you if the engine is warmed up and the choke is still out. However,
switch
> (1) on the choke is faulty (i.e. permanently on), giving the symptoms
above.
> (I'm guessing because a quick check in the p*ssing rain revealed neither a
> switch on the choke cable nor a likely-looking sensor on the head.)
>
> Am I there, or nearly there, or is it something else entirely?
>
Sounds about right.

The switch is located on the choke cable, right at the cab end behind the
panel its screws through. Probably at some point someone has replaced the
cable, and fitted one sans switch.
Best bet is to take the bulb out! Either that, or try to find a cable with a
switch (usually located in the hardware department of your local
ironmongers, right behind the rocking horse dung, next to the porcine wings)

 

E

EMB

Guest

• Aug 18, 2004

• #3

Richard Brookman wrote:
> OK, probably the first of many, here goes...
>
> Series 2a 2¼ petrol. There is a yellow warning light in the speedo labelled
> "cold start". It's off when the engine is cold, but comes on when the
> engine gets fully warm. I've checked the wiring diagram, and the earth for
> the lamp goes through a switch (1), then through another switch (2) to
> earth. I'm guessing now*, but switch (1) must be on the choke cable
> (continuity when choke is pulled out) and switch (2) is a temp sensor on the
> engine (continuity when the engine is warm). The result being that it warns
> you if the engine is warmed up and the choke is still out. However, switch
> (1) on the choke is faulty (i.e. permanently on), giving the symptoms above.
> (I'm guessing because a quick check in the p*ssing rain revealed neither a
> switch on the choke cable nor a likely-looking sensor on the head.)
>
> Am I there, or nearly there, or is it something else entirely?

Spot on. Choke cable switch is on the cable just inside the engine
compartment, and engine temp switch is at the front of the head, by the
rocker cover - should have 1 wire onbolted to the top of it. Lubing the
switch on the choke cable, and adjusting said cable will probably solve
the problem.

--
EMB
change two to number to reply

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Aug 21, 2004

• #4

EMB wrote:
> Richard Brookman wrote:
>> OK, probably the first of many, here goes...
>>
>> Series 2a 2¼ petrol. There is a yellow warning light in the speedo
>> labelled "cold start". It's off when the engine is cold, but comes
>> on when the engine gets fully warm. I've checked the wiring
>> diagram, and the earth for the lamp goes through a switch (1), then
>> through another switch (2) to earth. I'm guessing now*, but switch
>> (1) must be on the choke cable (continuity when choke is pulled out)
>> and switch (2) is a temp sensor on the engine (continuity when the
>> engine is warm). The result being that it warns you if the engine
>> is warmed up and the choke is still out. However, switch (1) on the
>> choke is faulty (i.e. permanently on), giving the symptoms above.
>> (I'm guessing because a quick check in the p*ssing rain revealed
>> neither a switch on the choke cable nor a likely-looking sensor on
>> the head.)
>>
>> Am I there, or nearly there, or is it something else entirely?
>
> Spot on. Choke cable switch is on the cable just inside the engine
> compartment, and engine temp switch is at the front of the head, by
> the rocker cover - should have 1 wire onbolted to the top of it.
> Lubing the switch on the choke cable, and adjusting said cable will
> probably solve the problem.

Sorted! The choke cable switch was located behind the dash panel rather
than in the engine bay, and I still can't find the engine temp switch. The
cable switch had become dislodged (very flimsy affair) and putting it back
in the right place has solved it. Many thanks (and to Simon) for the input.

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

 

J

JD

Guest

• Aug 21, 2004

• #5

Richard Brookman wrote:

> EMB wrote:
>> Richard Brookman wrote:
>>> OK, probably the first of many, here goes...
>>>
>>> Series 2a 2¼ petrol. There is a yellow warning light in the speedo
>>> labelled "cold start". It's off when the engine is cold, but comes
>>> on when the engine gets fully warm. I've checked the wiring
>>> diagram, and the earth for the lamp goes through a switch (1), then
>>> through another switch (2) to earth. I'm guessing now*, but switch
>>> (1) must be on the choke cable (continuity when choke is pulled out)
>>> and switch (2) is a temp sensor on the engine (continuity when the
>>> engine is warm). The result being that it warns you if the engine
>>> is warmed up and the choke is still out. However, switch (1) on the
>>> choke is faulty (i.e. permanently on), giving the symptoms above.
>>> (I'm guessing because a quick check in the p*ssing rain revealed
>>> neither a switch on the choke cable nor a likely-looking sensor on
>>> the head.)
>>>
>>> Am I there, or nearly there, or is it something else entirely?
>>
>> Spot on. Choke cable switch is on the cable just inside the engine
>> compartment, and engine temp switch is at the front of the head, by
>> the rocker cover - should have 1 wire onbolted to the top of it.
>> Lubing the switch on the choke cable, and adjusting said cable will
>> probably solve the problem.
>
> Sorted! The choke cable switch was located behind the dash panel rather
> than in the engine bay, and I still can't find the engine temp switch.
> The cable switch had become dislodged (very flimsy affair) and putting it
> back
> in the right place has solved it. Many thanks (and to Simon) for the
> input.
>
Temp switch is just next to the thermostat on the top of the head, held by
three setscrews.
JD

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Aug 22, 2004

• #6

JD wrote:
> > Temp switch is just next to the thermostat on the top of the head,
> held by three setscrews.
> JD

Aha. I saw that one, but disconnecting it made no difference - the light
still came on, so I assumed it was for something else, perhaps the
cup-holder failure warning light.

Thanks

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

 

E

EMB

Guest

• Aug 22, 2004

• #7

Richard Brookman wrote:

>
> Aha. I saw that one, but disconnecting it made no difference - the light
> still came on, so I assumed it was for something else, perhaps the
> cup-holder failure warning light.

If the light still goes with that disconnected then you've got a wee
short circuit somewhere. Time for a multimeter, test light and wiring
diagram methinks.

--
EMB
change two to number to reply

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Aug 22, 2004

• #8

EMB wrote:
> Richard Brookman wrote:
>
>>
>> Aha. I saw that one, but disconnecting it made no difference - the
>> light still came on, so I assumed it was for something else, perhaps
>> the cup-holder failure warning light.
>
> If the light still goes with that disconnected then you've got a wee
> short circuit somewhere. Time for a multimeter, test light and wiring
> diagram methinks.

'S what I thought. It's piddling down now, and getting dark, and I've an
early start tomorrow, so this will have to wait.

Thanks for the help.

--

Rich

Series 2a
RR 4.6
V8 trialler
dog, wife, kids, whatever

 

S

SimonJ

Guest

• Aug 18, 2004

• #9

> Series 2a 2¼ petrol. There is a yellow warning light in the speedo
labelled
> "cold start". It's off when the engine is cold, but comes on when the
> engine gets fully warm. I've checked the wiring diagram, and the earth
for
> the lamp goes through a switch (1), then through another switch (2) to
> earth. I'm guessing now*, but switch (1) must be on the choke cable
> (continuity when choke is pulled out) and switch (2) is a temp sensor on
the
> engine (continuity when the engine is warm). The result being that it
warns
> you if the engine is warmed up and the choke is still out. However,
switch
> (1) on the choke is faulty (i.e. permanently on), giving the symptoms
above.
> (I'm guessing because a quick check in the p*ssing rain revealed neither a
> switch on the choke cable nor a likely-looking sensor on the head.)
>
> Am I there, or nearly there, or is it something else entirely?
>
Sounds about right.

The switch is located on the choke cable, right at the cab end behind the
panel its screws through. Probably at some point someone has replaced the
cable, and fitted one sans switch.
Best bet is to take the bulb out! Either that, or try to find a cable with a
switch (usually located in the hardware department of your local
ironmongers, right behind the rocking horse dung, next to the porcine wings)

 

E

EMB

Guest

• Aug 18, 2004

• #10

Richard Brookman wrote:
> OK, probably the first of many, here goes...
>
> Series 2a 2¼ petrol. There is a yellow warning light in the speedo labelled
> "cold start". It's off when the engine is cold, but comes on when the
> engine gets fully warm. I've checked the wiring diagram, and the earth for
> the lamp goes through a switch (1), then through another switch (2) to
> earth. I'm guessing now*, but switch (1) must be on the choke cable
> (continuity when choke is pulled out) and switch (2) is a temp sensor on the
> engine (continuity when the engine is warm). The result being that it warns
> you if the engine is warmed up and the choke is still out. However, switch
> (1) on the choke is faulty (i.e. permanently on), giving the symptoms above.
> (I'm guessing because a quick check in the p*ssing rain revealed neither a
> switch on the choke cable nor a likely-looking sensor on the head.)
>
> Am I there, or nearly there, or is it something else entirely?

Spot on. Choke cable switch is on the cable just inside the engine
compartment, and engine temp switch is at the front of the head, by the
rocker cover - should have 1 wire onbolted to the top of it. Lubing the
switch on the choke cable, and adjusting said cable will probably solve
the problem.

--
EMB
change two to number to reply