Newbie Help: Coolant sensor vs. temp guage
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New User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: San Antonio USA
Newbie Help: Coolant sensor vs. temp guage
My 96 Ranger 2.3L gives a code P0118 "Engine coolant temperature circulation high imput" and started knocking under hard acceleration when the MIL light came on.
This sounds like a faulty coolant temperature sensor, giving the PCM a signal for too much spark advance under load. But the temperature guage is working fine (no change since before MIL), and I can pull a reasonable temp (180-195) from the diagnostic monitor after engine is up to temp.
Are there two temperature sensors on the 96 2.3L engine, one for the PCM and a second for the temperature guage? Or, could the sensor give OK signal for the guage but still be faulty for PCM signal?
Or should I suspect something else in the electronics besides the coolant sensor?
Thanks for your help - this is my first shot at OBD-II and it makes balancing dual carbs look easy!
This sounds like a faulty coolant temperature sensor, giving the PCM a signal for too much spark advance under load. But the temperature guage is working fine (no change since before MIL), and I can pull a reasonable temp (180-195) from the diagnostic monitor after engine is up to temp.
Are there two temperature sensors on the 96 2.3L engine, one for the PCM and a second for the temperature guage? Or, could the sensor give OK signal for the guage but still be faulty for PCM signal?
Or should I suspect something else in the electronics besides the coolant sensor?
Thanks for your help - this is my first shot at OBD-II and it makes balancing dual carbs look easy!
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,562
Likes: 4
From: South Jersey
Newbie Help: Coolant sensor vs. temp guage
It uses a single wire sensor for the gauge and a two wire one for the computer. You should really run the pinpoint tests but if the sensor is cheap and you don't have the tests you could just replace it. If you want to measure the resistance of the sensor I can email you the chart, it won't paste here.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 148
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From: Charlotte
Newbie Help: Coolant sensor vs. temp guage
Help me brush up on my Latin. Truth exists in....?
If it's not tossing error codes, look for a mechanical failure. I've got a '98 2.5 that knocked like a pig until I put the right spark plugs in it. Mine only knocked under hard acceleration and got progressively worse with time and temp.
CB
If it's not tossing error codes, look for a mechanical failure. I've got a '98 2.5 that knocked like a pig until I put the right spark plugs in it. Mine only knocked under hard acceleration and got progressively worse with time and temp.
CB
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New User
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: San Antonio USA
Newbie Help: Coolant sensor vs. temp guage
Thanks, Ken00. I'd appreciate the temp-resistance chart if it's handy [volcaniac(No Email Addresses In Posts!)]. The coolant temperature sensor is $16 at autozone, so not too painful to replace!
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4
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From: San Antonio USA
Newbie Help: Coolant sensor vs. temp guage
>Help me brush up on my Latin. Truth exists in....?
Molten rock. At 2200 °F, there's no room for excess vapor. Ahem
>
>If it's not tossing error codes, look for a mechanical
>failure. I've got a '98 2.5 that knocked like a pig until I
>put the right spark plugs in it. Mine only knocked under
>hard acceleration and got progressively worse with time and
>temp.
>CB
Hopefully replacing the coolant temp sensor will quiet the beast. If not, onto timing/ignition issues. Thanks for the feedback!
Molten rock. At 2200 °F, there's no room for excess vapor. Ahem
>
>If it's not tossing error codes, look for a mechanical
>failure. I've got a '98 2.5 that knocked like a pig until I
>put the right spark plugs in it. Mine only knocked under
>hard acceleration and got progressively worse with time and
>temp.
>CB
Hopefully replacing the coolant temp sensor will quiet the beast. If not, onto timing/ignition issues. Thanks for the feedback!
