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Coolant temperature sensors are used by the fuel management system to detect the engine’s operating temperature. Depending on the sensor information, the control unit adapts the injection time and firing angle to the operating conditions. The sensor is a temperature sensor with a negative temperature coefficient.
If the coolant temperature sensor goes bad it can send a false signal to the computer and throw off the fuel and timing calculations. It is not uncommon for the coolant temperature sensor to fail and send a permanently cold signal to the computer. … This will reduce fuel economy, and may hinder engine performance.
If you have a new sensor on hand and want to check it, you can do this easy test. Connect the black lead of the meter to the body of the cold sensor and the red to the terminal. You should have a reading of approximately 2000 ohms. Check the warm sensor in your engine.
Bad coolant temperature sensor causes cold starting problems
If you have to pump the gas pedal in the morning to keep your car running, you may have a bad engine coolant temperature sensor. … You can have a bad sensor even without a “check engine” light or trouble code.
A faulty coolant sensor that always reads cold may cause the fuel control system to run rich, pollute and waste fuel. A coolant sensor that always reads hot may cause cold driveability problems such as stalling, hesitation and rough idle. … This also affects engine performance and fuel economy.
In most cases, sensors for your automobile will need to be replaced if they fail, but depending on the type of sensor and its location or function, some can be cleaned and reused. Sensors can come in many types and are used for a variety of systems on modern cars.
The sensor will not cause a no start. It could cause a hard start and a rich or lean condition only.
The engine may run in fail-safe mode:
Many Check Engine light codes related to the (ECT) sensor; could also be caused by other reasons. Such as a bad thermostat or issues with the cooling system; including even a leaking head gasket.
Another symptom of a bad or failing ambient temperature sensor is inconsistent cooling. … If the ambient temperature sensor fails or is sending out an inconsistent signal, then the AC system may have trouble maintaining cool and comfortable cabin temperatures.
Sensors can improve the world through diagnostics in medical applications; improved performance of energy sources like fuel cells and batteries and solar power; improved health and safety and security for people; sensors for exploring space and the known university; and improved environmental monitoring.
The sensor works with the vehicle’s ECU, continually monitoring the coolant temperature to make sure the engine is running at the optimum temperature. To get an accurate reading of the current engine temperature, the ECU sends a regulated voltage to the CTS.
The most common sensors that will stop your car from starting include the camshaft sensor, the crankshaft sensor, the mass air flow (MAF) sensor, the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor and the throttle position sensor.
Often, 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.
If the sensor is reading too high of temperature when compared to the ambient air temperature sensor when first started then the computer would see it as a problem and turn on the check engine light to use a known good reading. No start will not be caused by the sensor.
The cooling of the air conditioner should not be affected by the engine cooling temperature.
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. The device follows the principle of dependence of potential difference in temperature.
Open the radiator valve and drain about two to three quarts of coolant. You only need to remove enough to drop the level below the sensor. Then close the drain valve. This will minimize coolant waste when you remove the sensor.
To have this sensor replaced, you will pay somewhere between $95 and $140, depending both on the car you have and the mechanic’s fees. The labor should cost between $60 and $80, while parts can cost as little as $35 or as much as $65.
On most cars, trucks and SUV’s, the coolant level sensor will be located on the passenger side. It will be rectangular in shape and be located on the side of the radiator near the fill neck.
Your coolant light will come on when the sensor senses an incorrect change in the temperature in your system. Typically the sensor, which monitors the coolant temperature, knows how to adjust to varying temperatures depending up the status of your car; running, warming up, or cold.
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