Cold engine light activation temperature?

[Fry]

Hello!

I've had my 2012 1.4L manual Sonic for a few weeks now, and I'm very happy with it and all its shinyness (a technical term). One thing that's been bugging me though is the cold engine light; I have yet to see it come on. I am lucky enough to be able to park my Sonic in the garage, so while it's not warm in there, it's not nearly as cold as it is outside. I thought this might be a good reason why the light hasn't come on, but then I went to work yesterday.

I drove 20 minutes to work, enough to warm everything up no doubt, and stayed at work for 6 hours. When I left work it was 30 degrees outside, and it wasn't much warmer before then, yet still no cold engine light. Does this light simply hide its face unless it's really, really cold?

What temperature does this light come on for your car?

Could this be something I need to get checked out by the dealer? I'm not as concerned by the lack of a light as by the possibility that something isn't running properly and the light is merely a symptom. Though everything seems fine so far.

 

[BRNZY]

This is a new one to me? I did not know there was a cold engine light Maybe I should read my manual? Or is it something on the 2013 models?

 

[Fry]

This is a new one to me? I did not know there was a cold engine light Maybe I should read my manual? Or is it something on the 2013 models?

That's another point; is there a cold engine light? That question hadn't occurred to me. I've never had a car that didn't have a cold engine light and I assumed there was one on the Sonic. Guess I should read the owner's manual?

 

[Eric Smit]

there isn't a cold engine light.


-Eric Smit

 

[Fry]

there isn't a cold engine light.


-Eric Smit

Well, that answers that. lol

Any reason why? I mean, it's still cold! Why not say when its cold? Or is the Sonic too proud to admit it's chilly outside?

 

[C.E.Divine]

I have had several cars and none of them had a cold engine light. Is this standard in certain countries or something?

 

[Fry]

I have had several cars and none of them had a cold engine light. Is this standard in certain countries or something?

I'm the opposite; every car I've owned or driven has had a cold engine light. Guess it's just weird luck and those aren't as universal as I thought.

 

[militaryman]

I saw that my daughter's Toyota Yaris had a cold engine light (she asked me about it) and I had to look it up in the manual to find out what it was ... First time I had seen that and I have owned about 18 cars/trucks so far ---

 

[SonicBoy24]

Well, that answers that. lol

Any reason why? I mean, it's still cold! Why not say when its cold? Or is the Sonic too proud to admit it's chilly outside?

Nah, it's not too Proud to admit it, it's too Strong to be phased by weather or apocalyptic events, like the Silverado.

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

Fry if you really want to get in on the Temp info I would pick up an ELM327 on Amazon and get the torque app off the Android market (the paid version is worth it!) then you can see pretty much whatever you want.

 

[firstorbit84]

Most German cars usually have an audible warning and snowflake that appears near the outside temp display to warn you of possible ice in the road when it goes below 32°F outside.

Never seen a cold engine light before, although most diesels will have a glow plug light that comes on when you first turn the car on and goes out when the glow plugs are warm enough for you to crank the car.

Living in Florida I've only seen the snowflake warning once or twice and the glow plug light would basically turn off immediately.

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

I had a cold light on my old Toyota it was useless, the Sonic lets me know its ready to drive when the RPM's drop from around 1300 to about 900.

 

[Eric Smit]

why would you need a cold light? do you not realize it's cold out?


-Eric Smit

 

[Fry]

why would you need a cold light? do you not realize it's cold out?


-Eric Smit

Well, it's not really a need, so much as a "Where is it? I'm so confused!"

ThatTmoGuy, I probably will look into some sort of monitoring device, because I'm nosy like that. But other things will come first. Thanks for the recommendation though, I'll look into that one when the time comes.

To be honest, I feel silly bringing it up now. But I was just so used to having one that it didn't occur to me that it was possible to not have one.

 

[gsxr1000]

i agree with Eric... so what exactly is the purpose of a cold engine light... my truck on the mirrir says ice as far as the road conditions.....

Is it to let people know why the heater is blowing out cold air? It would makle more since to put a green light when the engine is up to operating temp.... maybe we should put a pistons in motion light

 

[Patgt500]

Cold engine light... I've had about 14 cars/trucks in my time, and I've never seen a cold engine light. I have seen plenty of overheat lights, or water in fuel lights. Cool idea I guess. On the other hand, the Torque app tells me if it's icy conditions with an audible warning.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

This is a new one to me? I did not know there was a cold engine light Maybe I should read my manual? Or is it something on the 2013 models?

Also, just checked the Owner's Manual and did not see this feature for the Sonic. The only engine coolant temperature warning light that comes on is when the engine has overheated.

Vanessa
GM Customer Service

 

[Papasonic]

The last vehicle that I remember having a cold engine light was my fathers 1964 Oldsmobile Super 88.




Papasonic

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Cold Engine Light

Man, that takes me back to when I was a little kid. My parents had a 1962 Buick Invicta Station Wagon. It DID have a green "Cold Engine Light" and it came on when the car was first started-up and/or the engine was too cold to use the heater. When it went out, that told the passengers the engine had warmed up enough to use the car's heater (if needed).

It was located to the far left of the speedometer gauge cluster. Next to that was a light for "Hot", "Generator", and "Oil" pressure. That was the only time I've ever seen a "Cold Engine Light" on a car.

 

[Swordsmith]

I've driven dozens of cars and owned more than 12, never seen or heard of a cold engine light. If I saw one on the cars I didn't own I probably didn't recognize it for what it was. When I saw this thread I assumed you misunderstood CEL (check engine light) for this term.

I have owned cars with coolant gauges, which proported to show coolant temp in a range from green (cold) to normal to red (hot)... but they were almost always fake gauges which merely showed normal unless the car was about to blow up and it was too late to do anything.

My 2012 with connectivity package shows the current ambient temp constantly, unless I'm on the phone. My Ultragauge is set up to show engine temp (coolant, I think?) and intake temp.

The 1.4T gets hot enough to use the heater FAST, like a minute driving or maybe two or three idling, on a sub 32 day, going to a lot of trouble for that gauge seems a bit silly. I do like being able to keep an eye on things, which is why I have the UG set up as I do, but the one thing the Sonic does have stock is the important one; the Uh Oh things are way too Hot gauge. Hopefully not the "oops too late" one that old fords used to have...