Coolant Temperature Sensor question

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 26, 2018 | 06:30 AM

jgcable

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 153

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.

Dec 26, 2018 | 07:36 AM

dsonnylal

Member

iTrader: (3)

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 122

From: Bergen County, NJ

If you have access to a scan tool with a live data feature, you can verify if your CTS is working or not. Could also be an issue with the gauge cluster.

Dec 26, 2018 | 08:27 AM

Turbobink

Senior Member

iTrader: (2)

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 2,758

From: Tampa Bay

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

Dec 26, 2018 | 10:52 AM

jgcable

Thread Starter

Member

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 153

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.

Dec 26, 2018 | 11:01 AM

JvG

Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 2,974

From: Portland, Oregon

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgcable

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.

Dec 26, 2018 | 01:24 PM

Turbobink

Senior Member

iTrader: (2)

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 2,758

From: Tampa Bay

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgcable

Think of the ECT sensor as just that ... an engine management “sensor”. The failure of an engine management sensor will create a DTC.

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.