Where are coolant temp sensors located?
The Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor can be located in a few places, depending on the vehicle and its manufacturer. It is most often located close to the thermostat of the cooling system or inside of it. The cooling system is located beneath the air intake pipe and behind the right cylinder.
What makes coolant temp sensor go bad?
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.
What happens if you drive with a bad coolant temp sensor?
Faulty readings from the coolant temperature sensor can cause your car’s engine to miscalculate the fuel to air mixture within the engine. If the amount of black smoke emitting from your car is excessive, then you should not drive your car and you should tow your vehicle to a mechanic.
Where do I find the coolant temperature sensor?
What is a Coolant Temperature Sensor and How Does It Work? 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.
Where is the temperature sensor located?
Usually, this sensor is located behind the grille but is in front of the radiator and radiator support. This is the best location for the sensor as it is away from the heat of the engine and can accurately read the ambient temperature of the air around it; that is the temperature of the air entering the intake manifold at the front of the engine.
What does a bad coolant temperature sensor do?
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.
What are the symptoms of a bad coolant temperature sensor?
Another symptom of a problem with the coolant temperature sensor is an overheating engine. The coolant temperature sensor can also fail in a manner that causes it to send a permanently hot signal. This can cause the computer to incorrectly compensate for a lean signal, which can result in overheating, and even misfires or engine ping.