When you drive around in a car with a bad coolant temp sensor in it, you run the risk of:
- Cylinder head gasket failure
- Cylinder head warping
- Engine block failure
What are the symptoms of a bad coolant temperature sensor?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Coolant Temperature
- Engine Light Checking. An indication of a possible issue with the coolant temperature sensor is the illumination of the Check Engine Light on the dashboard.
- Hard Start at Certain Temperatures. ...
- Engine Overheating. ...
- Poor Fuel Economy. ...
Can a bad coolant temp sensor cause no start?
To give an answer, the coolant temperature sensor will not cause the car not to start, although one of its bad symptoms is engine stalling soon after starting, especially when the engine is cold. But if your car does not start, consider checking for other issues first.
When your coolant temperature sensor should be replaced?
Your coolant temperature sensor only needs to be replaced if it has failed. It’s not an item that needs to be regularly replaced during routine servicing, so don’t change it for the sake of it. You have two choices when it comes to replacing a coolant temperature sensor: replace it yourself or pay a garage to replace it.
What are the signs of a bad temperature sensor?
Signs of a Bad Temperature Sensor
- Decrease Fuel Mileage. The temperature sensor is responsible for sending feedback information to the computer at specific resistances which will vary the engines power output causing the fuel mileage ...
- Check Engine Light. A cars computer is capable of reading the values of any sensor at any given time. ...
- Engine Will Overheat. ...
What happens if you drive with a bad coolant temperature sensor?
Your Engine is Overheating While a failing engine coolant temperature sensor may give a permanent cold signal, it can also malfunction in a way that sends a hot signal when your engine temperature is safe.
Can you drive without coolant sensor?
It is very dangerous to drive a car with no coolant. Driving your car without coolant can cause engine overheating and an overheated engine can trigger significant damage to core engine parts.
What are the symptoms of a faulty temperature sensor?
Symptoms of a Bad Coolant Temperature Sensor If your vehicle starts to use a lot more gasoline than usual, or black smoke is starting to come from the exhaust pipe, these are indicators that the coolant temperature sensor in your vehicle could be defective, and needs to be replaced.
What happens if your temperature sensor goes out?
Engine Overheating If a critical component like the coolant temperature sensor goes out, the engine will overheat. The engine coolant temperature sensor communicates the coolant temperature to the ECU. Wrong communication can lead to engine overheating.
How much does it cost to replace a coolant temperature sensor?
On average, the cost of a coolant temperature sensor ranges from $20-$80, while the cost of labor ranges from $50-$250. In total, one could expect to pay $70-$330 to have their engine coolant temperature sensor replaced.
How long can a car overheat before damage?
The furthest you can drive an overheating car is about a ¼ mile before you risk irreversible engine damage. While some vehicles could still make it as far as 20 miles, we would never recommend driving very far with an overheating engine.
Are there 2 coolant temperature sensors?
There are two temperature sensors in some vehicles, one to send information from the engine system to the control unit and another from the control unit to the dashboard.
What does the coolant temperature sensor control?
The Coolant Temperature Sensor is used to measure the temperature of the engine coolant. The readings from this sensor are then fed back to the engine control unit (ECU). This data from the sensor is then used to adjust the fuel injection and ignition timing.
How do you test a coolant temperature sensor?
Submerge your temperature sensor in the hot water and wait a few seconds to let your multimeter take a reading. Write down your reading so you can easily reference it. A hot water reading should give you around .
How long do coolant temp sensors last?
about 100,000 milesOften, the engine coolant temperature sensor must be replaced at about 100,000 miles. If you don't properly maintain the engine cooling system, the sensor could fail much earlier.
How long does it take to change a temperature sensor?
If you are doing it yourself it will take 4 to 5 hours. However if a skilled mechanic is doing it, it will take 2 to 3 hours only. Whether your car was running or not. If the engine of your car is running, then you will have to wait at least 1 hour before you start replacing the bad coolant temp sensor.
Can a car start without temperature sensor?
To give an answer, the coolant temperature sensor will not cause the car not to start, although one of its bad symptoms is engine stalling soon after starting, especially when the engine is cold.
Can you bypass a temperature sensor?
You can bypass it with a regular resistor, but you have to know the value associated with the thermister. To find the value: -Disconnect the thermister, and apply a meter to it and read initial resistance value.
How long does a coolant temperature sensor last?
about 100,000 milesOften, the engine coolant temperature sensor must be replaced at about 100,000 miles. If you don't properly maintain the engine cooling system, the sensor could fail much earlier.
How does a coolant temperature sensor work?
The Coolant Temperature Sensor is used to measure the temperature of the engine coolant. The readings from this sensor are then fed back to the engine control unit (ECU). This data from the sensor is then used to adjust the fuel injection and ignition timing.
How To Replace a Bad Coolant Temp Sensor?
By following the procedure below, you can easily replace the faulty ECT sensor yourself:
What is a Coolant Temperature Sensor?
An engine coolant temperature sensor is also known as CTS or ECT sensor, as it is evident from its name that it measures the temperature of the engine coolant. In addition to this function, it also measures the overall engine temperature.
What is a Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor?
The principle working of this sensor involves the use of an electrical resistance that measures the temperature of the coolant. These measurements produce essential data for the engine system of your vehicle.
How to check a coolant sensor?
How to Diagnose a Faulty Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor? 1 Connect an OBD2 Scanner and look for related trouble codes. Check the live data to see the temperature from the sensor. If it is way off the range, check the wirings, and replace the sensor. 2 Locate the coolant temperature sensor in your vehicle by referring to the service manual. 3 Find the coolant temperature sensor and remove the connector plugs. 4 If you have two pins on the coolant temperature sensor, you can try ohm measure between these two pins. 5 Check your repair manual for the correct ohm-value at a given temperature. 6 If the value is wrong – replace the sensor. 7 If it seems fine, check the wirings and connectors between the coolant temperature sensor and the engine control module.
How to tell if coolant sensor is working?
One of the first signs of all coolant temperature sensor symptoms you will probably notice is that the check engine light will show up on your dashboard.
Why won't my electric cooling fan come on?
Electrical Cooling Fans not coming on. Some cars use the engine coolant temperature sensor to control the electric cooling fans. You have two separate temperature sensors for the fans, dashboard gauge, and engine management in most cars. However, if your car has a single sensor, a bad engine coolant temperature sensor may result in your fans won’t ...
How much does it cost to replace a coolant temperature sensor?
The average coolant temperature sensor replacement cost is between $50 to $250, depending on the car model and labor costs. A coolant temperature sensor costs 30$ to 100$, and the labor costs 20$ to 150$.
Why does my fan not turn on?
If the fan receives a false signal , the fan might not turn on, causing the engine to overheat. Some vehicles have a separate coolant temperature sensor for the fan, but many cars use the same sensor.
What causes an engine to overheat?
Engine Overheats. The cooling fan, which is behind the radiator grille, removes heat from the engine’s coolant. This fan is electrically controlled and relies on the signal from the onboard computer. If the fan receives a false signal, the fan might not turn on, causing the engine to overheat. Some vehicles have a separate coolant temperature ...
How to tell if coolant sensor is bad?
To help you with that, here are the common signs and symptoms of a faulty coolant temperature sensor. Unpredictable readings of the temperature gauge. One of the common problems of a coolant temperature sensor is when it has poor connection inside, in the wiring harness, or in the connector. The poor connection can cause ...
What is the job of coolant temperature sensor?
Its job is to ensure that the engine is running at its optimum temperature. The coolant temperature sensor sends signals to the car’s computer and if something is detected, the computer will make changes on the timing of the engine and its fuel calculations. Like if it’s too cold, the engine will need more fuel or if it’s too hot, ...
Why does my car overheat?
When your engine overheats, it can be because of a faulty engine coolant temperature sensor. This can happen when the sensors send inaccurate signals to the car’s computer. Like for example, sensors sending a constant hot temperature or a cold temperature signal.
How to connect a volt ohm meter to a coolant temperature sensor?
You can then proceed to remove the wire from the sensor terminal and connect the red lead to the coolant temperature sensor’s terminal end.
Why is my temperature gauge reading irregular?
The irregular readings of the temperature gauge can be caused by the engine coolant temperature sensor’s faulty connectors and by the wiring harness. When this happens, you will need to replace the connectors or repair the wiring harness. A water-contaminated connectors can also cause sensor-related problems.
Why is coolant temperature important?
A coolant temperature sensor plays a vital role in keeping the engine at its optimal operating temperature. You probably heard about a car’s engine overheating or engine running too hot before. Maybe you experienced it at some point, but did you know that your engine can run cold too?
Why does my check engine light flash?
A flashing check engine light is also an indicator that you have a failing engine coolant temperature sensor. If the car’s computer detects that there is something wrong with your sensor’s circuit or signal, it will set off your check engine light and it will continue to flash until the problem is fixed.
What happens if your coolant temp sensor is bad?
A bad coolant temp sensor will send a false reading to the car computer and disrupt accurate gas and timing calculations. Commonly, a failed temp sensor might permanently send a cold signal to the computer, making it think the vehicle is always cold even when it’s running hot.
How does a coolant temp sensor work?
The coolant temp sensor functions perfectly by monitoring the coolant temp with the aid of an electrical circuit. The sensor sends a signal to the car computer to make changes for gas calculation and engine timing for peak performance. As the vehicle engine requires less gas when warmed and more gas when cold, the car computer will adjust the engine performance setting if it receives a signal that coolant temp is above the normal operating temperature to save the engine from catastrophic damages due to the engine overheating.
Why does my car keep reading cold?
while it is pretty clear that a failing or faulty temp sensor will cause a cold reading, in some cases, the coolant temp sensor can malfunction and send a hot signal when the engine is running at average operating temperature. In such a case, your car computer will think the vehicle is running at a high temperature when it’s not.
Why is my coolant temp gauge low?
If you notice temperature fluctuations in your temperature gauge, or it stays lower or higher than expected when the engine is running, it could be an indicator of a failing or lousy coolant temp sensor. Especially if the engine doesn’t warm as it supposes to, you have to contact your mechanic to diagnose and track down the problem in your cooling system.
Why is my coolant temperature fluctuating?
However, keep in mind that aside from faulty coolant temp sensor, there are other host causes of irregular or fluctuating temperature; such as cylinder head leak, low coolant level, failing radiator fan, and bad pressure cap.
How to remove temp sensor from car?
Remove the electrical connectors: The temp sensor is connected to the car computer via an electrical connector. You need to carefully unplug the connector as it can be brittle and break. Always inspect electrical connectors for corrosion and clean them if you find any.
What does P0115 mean?
P0115: this means a random issue with the coolant temp circuit.