Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Malfunction...
What does that mean?
The ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature) sensor
is basically a thermistor that changes resistance with temperature.
Usually a two wire sensor, a 5Volt reference from PCM (Powertrain
Control Module) and ground signal to PCM. This is different from a
temperature SENDER (which usually operates the dash temperature gauge
and operates in a similar way as the SENSOR, only it's a different
circuit than what a P0115 is referring to). As the temperature of the
coolant changes, the resistance changes on the ground signal to the PCM.
When the engine is cold, the resistance is high. When the engine is
warm, the resistance is low. If the PCM detects a voltage condition
that seems abnormally low or high,
P0115 will set.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a P0115 DTC code may include:
- MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) illumination will always occur
- Vehicle may be hard to start
- May blow a lot of black smoke and run extremely rich
- Engine may want to die or backfire in tailpipe
- Engine may run lean and increased Nox emissions may be apparent (Requires gas analyzer)
- Cooling fans may run all the time when they shouldn't be, or not at all when they should be
Causes
Usually the cause can be traced to a bad
ECT sensor, however that doesn't preclude the following:
- Wiring or connector damaged at sensor
- Open or short in reference or signal circuit
- Open or short in signal circuit
- Bad PCM
Possible Solutions
1. First, visually check the sensor for damage to wiring or connector
and repair as necessary. Then, if you have access to a scanner,
determine what the temperature of the engine is. (If you don't have
access to a scan tool, using the dash temperature gauge may not be an
effective way to determine coolant temperature. This is because the
P0115 code is referring to the
ECT SENSOR, and the dash gauge is operated by, usually a one-wire SENDER. Basically a different sensor that the code doesn't refer to.)
2. If the engine temperature is abnormally high, around 280 deg. F,
that's abnormal. Unplug the sensor on the engine and see if the signal
drops to, say, negative 50 deg. F. If it does, then it's a good bet the
sensor is bad, internally shorted, causing a low resistance signal to be
sent to the PCM. However if you want to be sure it's the sensor and
not the wiring, there's a couple tests you can do. With the
ECT sensor unplugged,
check that you have 5 volts on the reference circuit with KOEO (Key on
engine off). Also you can check the resistance of the sensor to
ground using an Ohm meter. The resistance of a normal sensor to ground
will vary a little depending on the
vehicle,
but basically, if the temp of the engine is around 200 deg. F., the
resistance will be about 200 Ohms. If the temperature is about 0 def.
F., the resistance will be over 10,000 Ohms. With this test you should
be able to tell if the resistance of the sensor matches the temperature
of the engine. If it's not accurate according to your engine's
temperature, then you probably have a bad sensor.
3. Now, if the temperature of the engine according to the scanner is
around 280 deg. F. and unplugging the sensor doesn't cause the reading
to drop to negative 50 deg. F, but it stays at the same high temperature
reading, then you'll need to repair the short on the signal
circuit(ground) to the PCM. It's shorted directly to ground somewhere.
4. If your temperature reading of the engine according to the scanner
is showing negative 50 deg. F or so, (and you don't live in the
arctic!) unplug the sensor and check for a 5V reference present at the
sensor.
5. If there isn't, then check at the PCM connector for proper 5V
reference. If it's present at the PCM connector, then repair the open
or short on 5V reference from PCM. If there is no 5V reference present
at the PCM connector, then you're done with your diagnosis and you may
have a PCM fault. 6. If the 5V reference circuit is intact, then check
the ground signal to the PCM using the previous ground resistance test.
If the resistance isn't normal for the temperature of the engine, then
ohm the resistance of the ground signal to the PCM by removing the
ground signal wire from the PCM connector. The wire should have no
resistance, unplugged from the PCM to the sensor. If it does, repair
open in the signal to the PCM. If it doesn't have any resistance on the
ground signal wire and the resistance test of the sensor is normal,
then suspect a faulty PCM.
Hope that helps, please rate me!
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