![]() The worst-case scenario of an overheated engine could require an engine rebuild! Continued use of a modern vehicle with a faulty coolant temperature sensor long-term will result in spark plugs fouling and excess carbon build-up in your engine and exhaust. If your gauge is not working correctly, you will not know if an overheating problem occurs with your engine while driving. I would advise excising caution if you decide to continue driving with a faulty coolant temperature sensor. Is a Car Safe to Drive with A Bad Coolant Sensor? Don’t forget to get some suitable coolant for your vehicle to top up your engine after replacing the sensor. Most sensors are easily accessible on the engine and, with the right tools, can be replaced by the DIYer. Cost to Replace a Coolant Temperature Sensorĭepending on your vehicle, a coolant temperature sensor can cost anywhere from $30 – $200 plus labor. If you have bought your new car, you should not expect your coolant temperature sensor to fail, saying that they can and do fail from time to time.Ĭoolant temperature failures are more common in older vehicles. A break in the wire or disconnected temperature sensor will read like the sensor is faulty.Ĭoolant temperature sensors are quite robust as such, they don’t fail often. It is also a good idea to check the connectors and wiring harness if the resistance test is inconclusive. P0126 – Insufficient ECT for stable operation. P0125 – Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) insufficient for closed-loop fuel control P0119 – Engine Coolant Temperature circuit intermittent. P0118 – Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor circuit high voltage. P0117 – Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor circuit low voltage. P0116 – Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor performance. P0115 – Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor circuit. Manufacturers’ fault codes can vary, but some common codes that you may find relating to the coolant sensors are: Prolonged driving on an engine constantly running lean can lead to piston failure. ![]() ![]() If the opposite is occurring, your vehicle will be running lean. This is due to the engine ECU thinking that the car is still cold, where it requires more fuel to run. You may have trouble starting your car, have poor idle, and your car may blow black smoke. You may also notice your vehicle overheating despite the gauge on your dash reading cool or lower than usual. Modern vehicles will illuminate the check engine light. More often than not, the gauge will not move at all on the gauge or will go right up past completely hot. The first indicator of a faulty coolant sensor is that the temperature gauge reads either cold or hot even though the engine is hot or cold respectively. What Happens When a Coolant Sensor Fails? Once connected to a scan tool, the fault code will direct you to which temperature sensor is at fault. Alternatively, modern vehicles will illuminate the check engine light. If you do not have approximately 200 ohms decrease, your temperature sensor is faulty. There should be a 200-ohm decrease from the initial reading. Test the values when your engine is cold and record the result, then warm the engine up and check the resistance again. Test the sensor’s resistance by placing the multimeter’s black lead on earth and the red lead onto the pin of the temperature sensor. You will need a digital multimeter set to Ohms to test the temperature gauge. Is your temperature gauge not working correctly? Is your car using a lot more fuel than it usually does, or is it running not quite right? To diagnose, first, you need to know the symptom of a failed temperature sensor. This is usually an aftermarket modification to eliminate a faulty engine temperature gauge. Other older vehicles may have a coolant sensor located in the radiator’s top hose. Older vehicles typically have a single coolant sensor located near the thermostat. Where Are My Coolant Sensors Located?Ĭoolant sensors are situated in the cylinder head or next to the thermostat. This is so that the vehicle can complete several functions, such as controlling the electric cooling fans and providing data for the ECU and the temperature gauge in the instrument cluster. More modern vehicles can have at least two coolant temperature sensors. How Many Coolant Sensors Does a Car Have?Ĭoolant sensors detect variations in the temperature of your engine coolant and transmit this information to the temperature gauge on the instrument cluster and the engine ECU.
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