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I am restoring a 1973 Hurst/Olds. I am having trouble finding this control valve with the two spade electrical connection on it. I have tried my Napa parts guy and searched around on Rock Auto and FeeBay.
Does anyone here have one or know where I can find one?
I can see a number located on the switch but can't read it. I'm not familiar with a switch on the heater control valve for an Oldsmobile A-Body; but, I did find a bunch of switches which may or may not be applicable. My tiny bit of research indicates some vehicles used a heater control valve switch (i.e. Chrysler & Corvette). Some type of low pressure or high pressure cut-off switch. That switch (possibly the heater control valve) may not be the correct heater control valve for your vehicle?
The valve and the switch are two different pieces. The switch threads in. Which piece do you need or both? Some replacement valves were made to work with or without the switch, a threaded hole was provided in the new valve in case it was needed.
The valve is on eBay and OldsObsolete shows one. There are two types, one allows coolant to flow with vacuum one doesn't. Try to determine which type you need before buying one.
The valve and the switch are two different pieces. The switch threads in. Which piece do you need or both? Some replacement valves were made to work with or without the switch, a threaded hole was provided in the new valve in case it was needed.
Due to part number consolidation, most valves have a threaded hole for a temp sensor. However, on the ones I have seen the hole is very small and is for a mechanical temp sensor (Bourdon tube style) and not that electric switch or sender.
I was a line mechanic at an Olds dealership when these cars were new. Yeah, I'm old. Back then, IIRC, the idea was to have the blower motor run all the time to create a "positive pressure" in the cabin, to keep out exhaust fumes, etc. The only issue was, when it was cold out, you had cold air blowing on you. This temp sensor kept the blower from operating until the engine warmed up to a pre-set temperature.
The valve on the 455 in my 71 98 looks exactly like the one the OP posted only it has 1 connector instead of 2. I'd have to check my receipts for a part number. I know there are other threads on our site about this part. FWIW, Oldsguy replaced this valve with a 5/8" heater hose barb on the 455 in his 69 Delta 88.
I was a line mechanic at an Olds dealership when these cars were new. Yeah, I'm old. Back then, IIRC, the idea was to have the blower motor run all the time to create a "positive pressure" in the cabin, to keep out exhaust fumes, etc. The only issue was, when it was cold out, you had cold air blowing on you. This temp sensor kept the blower from operating until the engine warmed up to a pre-set temperature.
Aha! So is this why I always hear the blower very slightly in my daughters 77 Cutlass? I was wondering if a sensor was out or something.
Thanks to all your great replies, I have figured out what I need to do. I had a new heater control valve, but I did not realize that that sensor just screwed onto it. So I remove the sensor from my old valve and put on my new one. If I wouldn’t have posted this, I would’ve never known that could be done. Thanks to everyone who replied. You made a big difference. I now have what I need.
On some models, probably without a/c, there is a single spade ground terminal that screws into the rear of the passenger side cylinder head to perform the same function.
