Powertrain
generic / SAE
P0116
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Range/Performance
The coolant temperature sensor reading does not change plausibly during warm-up, or its value disagrees with the intake air temperature when the engine has been off long enough that they should match. Often caused by a sensor that reports near a fixed value despite engine warm-up.
SystemPowertrain
Typegeneric / SAE
GroupP0
Range / number1 / 16
Possible causes
- Sensor drifting outside specification high
- Thermostat stuck open (engine never reaches operating temperature) medium
- Sensor element aged beyond calibration window low
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Cooling fan runs constantly or not at all
- Cabin heater weak or excessively hot
- Possible long warm-up time or hard cold start
Inspection / repair
- Difficulty: easy
- DIY: possible
- Estimated cost: 30–250 €
- Estimated time: 0.3–2 h
- Component: coolant temperature sensor
- Component: thermostat
- MIL / check engine light
- emissions-relevant
- drive cycle required
Sources
References
sae:J2012