C7 General Discussion General C7 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Engine coolant temp reading zero?

Old Mar 4, 2017 | 04:25 PM
  #1  
maneuen's Avatar
maneuen
Thread Starter
Cruising
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Default Engine coolant temp reading zero?

while driving this morning, I noticed that the car "never warmed up" via the tach. I checked the digital temp and it was normal, however the engine analog gauge was at zero. When I stopped and turned the car off, the fan's continued to run all full blast. The engine itself was cool / normal, thus I believe the digital temp was correct. The ambient temp at the time was 65, so again the car wasn't actually hot (so I assume the fan's are default safety measure the car has)

I assume somehow related (?), but the rev match feature also would not engage?

I was headed to a meeting so I couldn't detour to the dealership. After the meeting upon startup, the same thing is happening except now the digital temp is also zero. since the engine was previously running cool, I made the trip home (dealer was closed by this point). On the way home both gauges stayed at zero but now the check engine light came on.

For background the car is '16 z51 with D1 procharger, headers, and meth. (and the supporting stuff, 160 degree thermostat, z06 injectors and high pressure fuel pump)

I did some searching, at it appears either the coolant sensor is at fault or the 160 degree thermostat......but I'm open to other thoughts? / wondering if anyone had anything similar (and is the rev match related?), what ended up being the solution

I'll make the trip to the dealer on monday.

Last edited by maneuen; Mar 4, 2017 at 04:28 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2017 | 06:08 PM
  #2  
ersatz928's Avatar
ersatz928
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,656
Likes: 841
From: New Jersey
Default

It sounds like your coolant temp sensor is faulty, or disconnected. I think it is located on the front of the engine, near the throttle body, easy to change.

Last edited by ersatz928; Mar 4, 2017 at 06:09 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2017 | 07:00 PM
  #3  
jcrooker's Avatar
jcrooker
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 138
Likes: 39
Default

Yikes, with all that stuff on there, good luck at the dealer.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2017 | 07:10 PM
  #4  
NSC5's Avatar
NSC5
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Default

If you thermostat sticks open OR the car doesn't warm up quickly enough (some have reported issues with 160 degree stats under low load operation) then the ECM senses a problem with the coolant temperature sensor and goes into a fail safe mode turning on the fan and disabling the temperature gauge.

The dealer is going to warranty block your car with all of your modifications and you are probably far better off having an aftermarket shop check/replace your thermostat if it is at fault since the dealer won't install a new 160 degree thermostat in any case. I believe after the fault is found and fixed you will have to erase the current DTCs to get the gauge to work/keep the fan from staying on because the controller will assume there is still a fault.

Last edited by NSC5; Mar 4, 2017 at 07:11 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2017 | 07:11 PM
  #5  
JimNeedsC7's Avatar
JimNeedsC7
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 453
Likes: 120
From: Columbus, Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by jcrooker
Yikes, with all that stuff on there, good luck at the dealer.
Really - that is exactly what I was thinking too.

Good Luck!
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2017 | 07:29 PM
  #6  
Foosh's Avatar
Foosh
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,939
Default

Originally Posted by jcrooker
Yikes, with all that stuff on there, good luck at the dealer.
Yes, I'm thinking this story will not end well.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2017 | 08:49 PM
  #7  
maneuen's Avatar
maneuen
Thread Starter
Cruising
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Default

Good advise to avoid the dealer..... I should have said "shop" as I don't want to open that can of worms with the dealership over what seems to be a bad thermostat or a bad sensor.

Anyone happen to have a pic of exactly where coolant temp sensor is? on the older cars I know it was just above the header on the cylinder head.

Last edited by maneuen; Mar 4, 2017 at 08:51 PM.
Reply
Old May 16, 2018 | 08:36 AM
  #8  
NakedDave's Avatar
NakedDave
Pro
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 530
Likes: 309
From: CT
Default

what did it end up being maneuen?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old May 16, 2018 | 09:26 AM
  #9  
Maxpowers's Avatar
Maxpowers
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,883
From: Toronto
Default

The coolant sensor and thermo are inexpensive so I don't think the OP is in bad shape.

EDIT: just noticed this is an old thread.

Last edited by Maxpowers; May 16, 2018 at 09:27 AM.
Reply
Old May 16, 2018 | 12:12 PM
  #10  
RCB1234's Avatar
RCB1234
Advanced
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 82
Likes: 10
From: Columbia Missouri
Default

It is probably the gasket to the thermostat. I had that happen when I replaced mine to a 160. When I opened it up the gasket had torn and was partly gone. Replaced and the issue went away.
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 12:44 PM
  #11  
merican1's Avatar
merican1
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by ersatz928
It sounds like your coolant temp sensor is faulty, or disconnected. I think it is located on the front of the engine, near the throttle body, easy to change.

I had the same problem and I'm still having the same problem. I have a similar setup I have an East Coast supercharger, headers, meth injection, nitrous, all that. And my temperature gauge is at zero and the motor is cool and the fan stays on. I have a 180 thermostat in it. I changed the temperature sensor and it seem to kind of work but never really recorded the temperatures it normally runs. Then today it didn't work at all it was back to zero.
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 12:47 PM
  #12  
merican1's Avatar
merican1
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by jcrooker
Yikes, with all that stuff on there, good luck at the dealer.
Dealers are pussies. Lol.

Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 01:12 PM
  #13  
merican1's Avatar
merican1
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Default

Since i have already changed the sensor and still have the problem, the common denominator is that we have all changed our thermostat for cooler ones. Hmmm.
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 03:36 PM
  #14  
6Speeder's Avatar
6Speeder
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,808
Likes: 344
From: Albuquerque NM
Default

Originally Posted by merican1
Since i have already changed the sensor and still have the problem, the common denominator is that we have all changed our thermostat for cooler ones. Hmmm.
These threads come up every year as it starts to cool down. I assume the OP has tuned the car to accommodate the mods. Have your tuner turn off the coolant undertemp code. Done.
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 04:26 PM
  #15  
merican1's Avatar
merican1
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Default Merican1

Originally Posted by maneuen
while driving this morning, I noticed that the car "never warmed up" via the tach. I checked the digital temp and it was normal, however the engine analog gauge was at zero. When I stopped and turned the car off, the fan's continued to run all full blast. The engine itself was cool / normal, thus I believe the digital temp was correct. The ambient temp at the time was 65, so again the car wasn't actually hot (so I assume the fan's are default safety measure the car has)

I assume somehow related (?), but the rev match feature also would not engage?

I was headed to a meeting so I couldn't detour to the dealership. After the meeting upon startup, the same thing is happening except now the digital temp is also zero. since the engine was previously running cool, I made the trip home (dealer was closed by this point). On the way home both gauges stayed at zero but now the check engine light came on.

For background the car is '16 z51 with D1 procharger, headers, and meth. (and the supporting stuff, 160 degree thermostat, z06 injectors and high pressure fuel pump)

I did some searching, at it appears either the coolant sensor is at fault or the 160 degree thermostat......but I'm open to other thoughts? / wondering if anyone had anything similar (and is the rev match related?), what ended up being the solution

I'll make the trip to the dealer on monday.
did you find the problem... I have a similar setup on mine supercharged, meth, headers... I'm experiencing the same thing with the coolant temperature the fan running all the time and rev match not working. I have already changed the sensor????
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2018 | 04:32 PM
  #16  
merican1's Avatar
merican1
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 6Speeder
These threads come up every year as it starts to cool down. I assume the OP has tuned the car to accommodate the mods. Have your tuner turn off the coolant undertemp code. Done.
Thanx, I'll give it a go.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2022 | 10:04 AM
  #17  
chris6.2c7's Avatar
chris6.2c7
2nd Gear
 
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by NSC5
If you thermostat sticks open OR the car doesn't warm up quickly enough (some have reported issues with 160 degree stats under low load operation) then the ECM senses a problem with the coolant temperature sensor and goes into a fail safe mode turning on the fan and disabling the temperature gauge.

The dealer is going to warranty block your car with all of your modifications and you are probably far better off having an aftermarket shop check/replace your thermostat if it is at fault since the dealer won't install a new 160 degree thermostat in any case. I believe after the fault is found and fixed you will have to erase the current DTCs to get the gauge to work/keep the fan from staying on because the controller will assume there is still a fault.




if the car hasn’t thrown any code all it does is kick the fans into high and the temp analog doesn’t read would I just have to swap the temp sensor and thermostat ? I’m reading people saying I have to clear pcm or ecm whatever it is but there’s no codes to clear ?
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2022 | 12:44 PM
  #18  
Bill Dearborn's Avatar
Bill Dearborn
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,995
Likes: 9,759
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Default

Originally Posted by chris6.2c7
if the car hasn’t thrown any code all it does is kick the fans into high and the temp analog doesn’t read would I just have to swap the temp sensor and thermostat ? I’m reading people saying I have to clear pcm or ecm whatever it is but there’s no codes to clear ?
Why open a 5-year-old thread to ask your question? Does the digital temperature gauge (seen in IP when using the Touring display read a temperature? Open a new thread and thoroughly/legibly describe your problem and what you are seeing on the instrument panel. Is the engine overheating? Is the fan running continuously? Has there been a loss of coolant?

To get you started DTCs P0117, P0118 and P0119 will cause the cooling fan to operate at high speed, disable the coolant temperature gauge (read zero) and disable the AC compressor. Is your AC compressor switching on?

P0117 sets when the engine coolant temp sensor is warmer than 300 degrees for more than 5 seconds. P0118 sets when the engine coolant temp sensor is cooler than -38 degrees for more than 5 seconds. P0119 sets when the engine coolant temp sensor is intermittent or abruptly changes for more than 3 seconds. Notice I didn't say the coolant is at any of those temperatures only that the sensor is reading those temperatures.

So far you haven't gone far enough to know whether you need to replace the thermostat or the sensor although the sensor is looking suspicious. At this point, even your IAT sensor could be involved as the system also compares coolant temp at start up to IAT at start up.

Bill
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Engine coolant temp reading zero?



Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:02 AM.

story-0
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-20 17:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-2
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

Slideshow: 10 things C8 Corvette owners hate, but won't tell you.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-01 18:36:07


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

Slideshow: Should you add one of these incredible Corvettes to your garage?

By Brett Foote | 2026-04-01 18:14:05


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE
story-9
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette

Slideshow: Check out these easy-to-install upgrades from Extreme Online Store that reshape the look and feel of the C6 Corvette.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-03-23 17:00:27


VIEW MORE