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This issue just started popping up and it’s intermittent. The coolant temp gauge will randomly go to 0, a bunch of messages pop up and then it’ll go back to normal temp. It sometimes will go all the way to 260 and again, messages pop up and then it’ll go back to normal temp.
Messages I’ve gotten are Check coolant level, Hot engine air conditioner off, change engine oil, etc and then it just goes back to normal. What could cause all of this? Engine Coolant temp sensor?
I have no coolant leaks or any problems with my car overheating so I believe it’s a sensor. Thanks!
Here is the code description…let me know if you want to diagnose this yourself…I don’t know how much electrical experience you have…maybe wiring or maybe sensor.
[QUOTE=C5 Diag;1608845682]Here is the code description…let me know if you want to diagnose this yourself…I don’t know how much electrical experience you have…maybe wiring or maybe sensor.
I think I’m gonna change the sensor. Do you know what’s needed to change it out? I’m gonna start with cleaning out the connections with electrical contact cleaner, compressed air and finish with a tiny dap of dielectric grease. If it keeps doing it after that than I think I’ll just change the sensor and pigtail harness. I’m curious on what else could be causing this issue besides those things? Thanks!
You have to understand how these thermistor circuits work to diagnosis this…no need to change the pigtail for a 0117…as I mentioned if the 5 volt reference wire were shorted to ground somewhere between the ECM and the sensor the ECT will max out as the code description tells you…if you were to take a jumper wire and jump out the 2 wires on the connector you would see your ECT max out…if the sensor is shorted out internally you will see the same thing…when you disconnect the sensor you will see -40 degrees because the ECM is seeing 5 volts…the sensor is located above the #1 spark plug and below the alternator…it gets unscrewed and always best to use an OEM sensor…you can get one on Rock Auto.
You have to understand how these thermistor circuits work to diagnosis this…no need to change the pigtail for a 0117…as I mentioned if the 5 volt reference wire were shorted to ground somewhere between the ECM and the sensor the ECT will max out as the code description tells you…if you were to take a jumper wire and jump out the 2 wires on the connector you would see your ECT max out…if the sensor is shorted out internally you will see the same thing…when you disconnect the sensor you will see -40 degrees because the ECM is seeing 5 volts…the sensor is located above the #1 spark plug and below the alternator…it gets unscrewed and always best to use an OEM sensor…you can get one on Rock Auto.
Gotcha! I’ll do some more research on this and see if i can maybe find a short somewhere along the 5volt reference wire. I noticed the wires join with the alternator harness plug wires and than both join with the ignition coil wire harness. If I continue tracing these wires would that put me on the right track for potential finding a short to ground?
Gotcha! I’ll do some more research on this and see if i can maybe find a short somewhere along the 5volt reference wire. I noticed the wires join with the alternator harness plug wires and than both join with the ignition coil wire harness. If I continue tracing these wires would that put me on the right track for potential finding a short to ground?
With ignition on first see if you have 5 volts on the yellow wire…you can try wiggling the harness as much as you can until that 5 volts goes away…one usually finds these shorts where the harness may bend around where it can contact the engine block somewhere…hopefully just a bad sensor…good video below.
Code p0117???
