I gave my car a tune-up the other day, (timing, wires, plugs, oil change). When I finished, I started her up and the "temp" light came on and has stayed on. The car is non computer controlled. Could I have bumped something loose?

light is on even when engine is cold?

followed the wiring from ccolant temp sender???? harness broken??? check again.

Two reasons the light can go on:

1. When the ignition switch is in the start position, power is supplied to the bulb to show the driver it is still good.
2. When the coolant reaches a specified temp, the sending unit (normally open) switch closes, completing the circuit to ground, and lighting the bulb.

First, verify the insulation is intact, and the wire is not shorting to ground.

If you remove the connection from the sending unit, the light should go out. If it does, the contact is stuck in the closed position. Replace it.

If it does not, the bulb is getting its power from another source. Not likely.

Norm

okay where abouts is the sending unit? on the coolant hose near the heater core?

Should be screwed into the water passage, at the front of the intake manifold, next to the thermostat housing.



Image shows it horizontal. It installs vertically, with the brass threads down.

Norm

hmmm...not sure. there is a part with a plug and wire attached on top of the intake manifold near the front. I'll take a picture tomorrow.

You have two (if not three) other live threads going at this time.

http://www.oldsconnection.com/forum/vie ... hp?p=22583
http://www.oldsconnection.com/forum/vie ... hp?p=22584

There is a good possibility they are all directly related to this one.


'83 should have a computer. Does your distributor have a vacuum advance, or a 4 pin connector?

Norm

It has a vacuum advance. Most 83 Cutlass' in Canada were non-computer controlled.

One thing I just realized is that I haven't noticed the coolant level in the overflow container move when the engine has been warm. Not sure if it is coincidence but the level has always been at the "full cold" level when I have had the hood up. Even when the engine is warm.

Drove the car today and didn't notice the hesitation on the highway or any knocking or pinging. Not sure why it would happen one day and not the next?



For my tune-up I strictly followed the VECI label under the hood to set timing and idle.