Coolant Temperature Sensor question
12-26-2018, 06:30 AM
#1
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Coolant Temperature Sensor question
The temp gauge on my 1997 suddenly stopped working. It just reads cold all the time. Car is running fine. I suspect its the Coolant Temp Sensor. Is it normal for the car to not throw a code for it? Mine didn't.
12-26-2018, 08:27 AM
#3
Keep in mind that there 2 sensors in the 4th gen..
One associated with engine management, the other related to the operation of the temperature gauge.
https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...e-problem.html
One associated with engine management, the other related to the operation of the temperature gauge.
https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...e-problem.html
12-26-2018, 10:52 AM
#4
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So.... does a coolant temperature sensor cause a check engine light to go on if its faulty? I would think no. Only the other sensor that goes to the ECU would cause a SES light to trip. Why would my ECU monitor what gauges are working? That's my thought.
12-26-2018, 11:01 AM
#5
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Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 2,979
Again, there are two sensors.
the ecu wants to know what the water temp is.
That's the ects. Engine control emperature sensor.
a faulty one would throw a code.
the second sensor reports to the guage on the dashboard. It would not throw a code.
12-26-2018, 01:24 PM
#6
Think of the gauge sensor as the coolant temp “sending unit”. The failure of a sending unit typically won’t result in the generation a DTC.
If you’ve got a DTC that points to the ECT, I’d recommend replacing it ... they’re cheap.
If all you’ve got is a malfunctioning dash gauge and no DTC, that would appear to point to the “sending” sensor or a gauge related electrical connector.
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krazy
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
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