Distributor Thermal Vacuum Switch

Critical For Operation

Emissions System

Controls the distributor vacuum advance based on engine temperature.

The distributor thermal vacuum switch opens or closes the vacuum line to the distributor’s vacuum advance, adjusting timing based on engine temperature to optimize performance.

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Typical part cost

$20–$60🔒

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Typical labor cost

$100–$200🔒

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Typically lasts

80,000–150,000 mi

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Or about

5.0–10.0 years

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DIY difficulty

4/10

⚠️ Owners Often Notice

If the Distributor Thermal Vacuum Switch is starting to fail, these are the signs owners most commonly report before it gets worse:

Poor engine performance

Engine misfires

Loss of power

Poor fuel economy

Check engine light

Hard starting

Related Services

Services commonly performed on or around this part.

Replace Distributor Thermal Vacuum Switch

No standard interval on file

Inspect Distributor Thermal Vacuum Switch

No standard interval on file

Test Distributor Thermal Vacuum Switch

No standard interval on file