Thermotime Switch (Trivia)

[webdawg1]

Just a little bit of "Trivia". Was out in the garage today cleaning up spare "Theromotime Switch" (I.E. - Contact cleaning for connector, Brass body for switch...etc...etc) When I started cleaning on the brass body I started to see letters and numbers on the flats. After I cleaned it a little bit more I saw the following info:

Made in Germany ????

11.74

150 degree's C max

12V 40W

VDO 36/4/14

18 Degree's C 12 sec

Just curious to see if anyone else has ever noticed this "Made in Germany" info, as I was expecting it to say something like "Made in Japan" or something to that effect.

webdawg1

[Zrush]

Isn't the fuel injection on the Z's a "Bosh Jetronic" or something like that? Bosh isn't a Japanese brand either. Yes, No?

Vicky

[webdawg1]

Actually I believe they called it "L-Jetronic" which was developed by Bosch in Germany. According to the EFI theory/troubleshooting manual (PDF format) that I downloaded, 1975 was the first year that the "L-Jetronic" was imported into the USA. I was just kind of surprised that the "ThermoTime Switch" actually said "Made in Germany" on it...Things that make you say things like "Say What"....

webdawg1

[sblake01]

Well the Nissan F.I. system is based on the Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection used on BMW, Mercedes etc. But it is their own version of the system. Through the years, parts have been interchanged such as the air regulator, the thermotime switch, the temperature sensor, etc. with the German counterparts. The Nissan parts were made by JECS. The Bosch parts are interchangable and, in my opinion, better. If you have a VDO (German) thermotime switch, it has been changed from the original JECS (Japaneese) thermotime switch. The German parts were common replacements on the 280Z, 280ZX, 810, 910 (Maxima) and any of the other 4 or 6 cylinder cars with L or Z (N.A.P.S.) engines. My own personal research which spans about 15 years now does show that the German parts actually last longer. The thermotime switch and temperature sensor from any of the late 70s to mid 80s BMW 6 cylinder engines work on any of the L series f.i. engines but only the air regulator with the number '0 280 140 124' will work on the Z engine. I believe that one comes from the 80 to 83 BMW 6 cyl.

[wm_e_smith]

Well the Nissan F.I. system is based on the Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection used on BMW, Mercedes etc. But it is their own version of the system. Through the years, parts have been interchanged such as the air regulator, the thermotime switch, the temperature sensor, etc. with the German counterparts. The Nissan parts were made by JECS. The Bosch parts are interchangable and, in my opinion, better. If you have a VDO (German) thermotime switch, it has been changed from the original JECS (Japaneese) thermotime switch. The German parts were common replacements on the 280Z, 280ZX, 810, 910 (Maxima) and any of the other 4 or 6 cylinder cars with L or Z (N.A.P.S.) engines. My own personal research which spans about 15 years now does show that the German parts actually last longer. The thermotime switch and temperature sensor from any of the late 70s to mid 80s BMW 6 cylinder engines work on any of the L series f.i. engines but only the air regulator with the number '0 280 140 124' will work on the Z engine. I believe that one comes from the 80 to 83 BMW 6 cyl.

I have owned for 26 years a 1978 Datsun 810 (L24, 6 cyl, efi, California Model, sedan, manual transmission). A local parts store has told me they can order a Thermotime switch for a 1982 or 1983 BMW 528e. I interpreted your reply as saying that this would be acceptable as a replacement for my old thermotime switch. Are the cold start valves also interchangeable?

Thanks, Bill

[sblake01]

Never tried one. If it has the same configuration as far as design, mounting, electrical connection, I don't see why it wouldn't work. Put up a picture of that 810. I also own one (a 79 2 dr Cali Model). Don't see them very often.

[TomoHawk]

only the air regulator with the number '0 280 140 124' will work on the Z engine. I believe that one comes from the 80 to 83 BMW 6 cyl.

Is that the AFM? I would probably like to have one on hand, just in case.

[sblake01]

Is that the AFM? I would probably like to have one on hand, just in case.

No, that's just the air regulator or auxiliary air valve. It adds extra air to the mix to help the engine warm up.

[TomoHawk]

Oh, that.

Mine wasn't working, so there's a new one in there now.

[sblake01]

I was looking at this old post and I noticed that my description of what the auxiliary air regulator does was wrong. I doesn't add extra air to the mix, it bypasses the throttle plate which raises the idle speed. Maybe that's basically the same thing, however.