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Cold start light?

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.
Reply to
Richard Brookman
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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)

Reply to
SimonJ

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.

Reply to
EMB

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.

Reply to
Richard Brookman

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

Reply to
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

Reply to
Richard Brookman

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.

Reply to
EMB

'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.

Reply to
Richard Brookman

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