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Usually, the location of the coolant temperature sensor will be located directly behind the coolant pipe. In most modern cars and vehicles, this is present behind the right cylinder head that is located right underneath of the air intake pipe.Jul 20, 2020
#1 – Check Engine Light
One of the most common symptoms associated with engine coolant temperature sensor failure is the sudden appearance of a check engine light. By its nature, a vehicle’s on-board diagnostics system stores trouble codes associated with many component failures and electrical circuit related problems.
Your Check Engine Light is On
Alongside the signal that your engine is overheating, you may see your check engine light come on if your coolant temperature sensor is failing or has failed. If your car’s computer senses a problem with the signal your sensor is sending, it may trigger the check engine light.
The sensor will not cause a no start. It could cause a hard start and a rich or lean condition only.
The average price for an engine temperature sensor replacement is between $150 and $193. Labor costs are between $82 and $105 while parts are between $66 and $88.
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.
The actual process of replacing the coolant temperature sensor is extremely simple. However, the difficult work comes in the preparation of the cooling system – both before and after. Tip: This job should only be completed when the engine is cold and has not been running for a minimum of one hour.
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.
A coolant temperature sensor (CTS) (also known as an ECT sensor or ECTS (engine coolant temperature sensor) is used to measure the temperature of the coolant/antifreeze mix in the cooling system, giving an indication of how much heat the engine is giving off.
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.
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.
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.
The primary reason your car temperature gauge goes up and down while driving is simply because a component in your cooling system is not functioning correctly. This could be the thermostat valve, radiator hoses, radiator fan, the temperature gauge, or the coolant itself that circulates around cools off the engine.
The coolant temperature sensor is located on the engine block under the hood. Pull the latch for the hood and open it, making sure it is secure before letting go. You will search for the sensor within the engine block itself, using a drop light if you need help to see it better.
If there’s no light, check the gas gauge fuse. If the fuse is good, connect a jumper between the ignition and the positive side of the gauge. If it works, you need to replace the wire between the ignition and the gauge. If the light turns on, then you’re running 12 volts, and it’s the gauge itself you need to replace.
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.
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.
Most thermostats are located where the top radiator hose joins the engine, so these steps deal with this type. If your thermostat is in the bottom radiator hose, the principle is the same.
Look to see if the coolant is swirling/flowing immediately — that means the thermostat’s stuck open. If the coolant doesn’t flow after 10 minutes or so and continues to be stagnant after the temperature gauge indicates it’s hot, the thermostat’s likely stuck closed.
The thermostat sensor is located near the evaporator coils. These coils are inside your air conditioner unit. As the air is sucked through the return vents, the air passes by the sensor and the coils. As the air passes the sensor, it reads the temperature and compares that reading to the setting on your thermostat.
If you find that you’ve got a car running hot but not overheating there might be a few reasons: Clogged or damaged radiator. Low coolant level. Damaged water pump or thermostat.
The cooling of the air conditioner should not be affected by the engine cooling temperature.
To troubleshoot your car’s temperature gauge, you need to know how it works. The temperature gauge reading starts out as a reference voltage that is sent to the coolant temperature sensor. This sensor is nothing more than a thermistor — a variable resistor that changes resistance with temperature changes.
The most common reason for the coolant light to become illuminated is simply that the coolant level is too low. There may be a floating sensor in your coolant tank that triggers the warning light when the level drops. … Low coolant levels are usually caused by leaks, either in the reservoir or somewhere in the lines.
The temperature sensor can fail in a way that causes it to send a permanently hot signal. This can cause the computer to over compensate for a lean signal, which can lead to overheating and even engine ping.
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