Volkswagen P0117 Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Low

Description

OBD-II Trouble Code Description for P0117 Volkswagen

Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Low

What does this mean?

OBD2 Code P0117 Volkswagen definition:
The ECT (Engine coolant temperature) sensor is a thermistor located in the engine block or other coolant passage. It changes resistance with changes in temperature of the coolant that it’s in contact with. It’s usually a two wire sensor. One wire is a 5 volt reference from PCM (Powertrain Control Module) and the other is a ground supplied from PCM. As the temperature of the coolant changes, the resistance of the sensor changes. When the engine is cold, the resistance is high. When the engine is warm, the resistance is low. If the PCM detects a signal voltage lower than the normal operating range of the sensor then P0117 Volkswagen code will set.

Symptoms

Possible sumptoms of OBD code P0117 Volkswagen
Potential symptoms include: MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) illumination Poor fuel economy Poor drivability Engine may run rough or blow black smoke out the tailpipe May not idle May start and then die

Causes

Possible causes of OBD code P0117 Volkswagen
Potential causes of the P0117 Volkswagen code include: Bad ECT sensor Short to ground on ECT signal circuit Faulty or damaged connectors Wiring harness damaged Loose terminals at ECT or PCM POSSI VolkswagenBLY an overheated engine Bad PCM

Possible Solutions

Since this code is for an abnormally low signal to the PCM from the ECT, the PCM saw a excessively “hot” condition in the engine coolant. This could be due to faulty ECT sensor or wiring, but it could, conceivably, be caused by an overheated engine.So if your engine was overheated diagnose that first. Having said that here are the possible solutions: Using a scan tool, with KOEO (Key on engine off) check the ECT reading on the display. On a cold engine the ECT reading should match the IAT (Intake Air Temperature) sensor reading. If it doesn’t, replace the ECT sensor.1. If the ECT reading is showing an excessively hot reading, for example more than 260 deg. F, then unplug the ECT sensor. This should cause the ECT reading to drop to the extreme cold reading (around -30 deg.F or so). If it does, replace the sensor, because it’s internally shorted. If it doesn’t change the reading, the check for a short to ground on the signal circuit of the ECT wiring. It could be that the two ECT wires are shorted to each other. Look for any chafing or melted wiring. Repair as necessary. a. If you can’t find any wiring problems and the ECT reading doesn’t drop to the extreme coldest when unplugged, then, check for voltage coming out of the PCM on the signal wire’s pin at the PCM connector. If there isn’t any voltage, or it is low, then the PCM may be bad. NOTE: On some models it is possible for the 5 Volt reference signal to be temperarily shorted. This can happen if an engine sensor internally shorts the 5 Volt reference. Since the 5 Volt reference is a “shared” circuit on many models, this will cause it to be abnormally low. Usually, though this will be accompanied by several other sensor codes. If you suspect that may be the case, unplug each sensor until the 5 Volt reference reappears. The last sensor unplugged is the offending sensor. Replace and recheck the signal wire from the PCM connector 2. If the scan tool ECT reading seems normal at this time then the problem may be intermittent. Use a “wiggle” test to manipulate the wiring harness and connectors while watching the ECT reading on the scan tool. Repair any wiring or connectors that are loose or corroded. You could check the Freeze frame data if your scan tool has that function. It will show the ECT reading when the failure occurred. If it shows the reading to be at the hottest extreme then replace the ECT sensor and see if the code reappears.

Related Codes

P0115 Volkswagen P0116 Volkswagen P0118 Volkswagen P0119 Volkswagen P0125 Volkswagen P0128 Volkswagen


The OBD2 Code Information Be Applicable For Volkswagen:

2013 Volkswagen e-Co-Motion Concept,2013 Volkswagen Up 4-door,2013 Volkswagen Up,2013 Volkswagen Touareg Edition X,2013 Volkswagen Scirocco GTS,2013 Volkswagen Santana,2013 Volkswagen Polo R WRC,2013 Volkswagen Polo BlueGT,2013 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack,2013 Volkswagen Lavida,2013 Volkswagen Kombi Last Edition,2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid,2013 Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan Concept,2013 Volkswagen Golf Plus Life,2013 Volkswagen Golf Mk VII UK-Version,2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet,2013 Volkswagen Golf,2013 Volkswagen Gol 2-door,2013 Volkswagen Eco Up,2013 Volkswagen Caddy Cross,2012 Volkswagen Tiguan,2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI,2012 Volkswagen Beetle,2011 Volkswagen eT Concept,2011 Volkswagen e-Up Concept,2011 Volkswagen XL1 Concept,2011 Volkswagen Touran,2011 Volkswagen Touareg,2011 Volkswagen Sharan,2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI,2011 Volkswagen Phaeton,2011 Volkswagen Jetta,2011 Volkswagen Eos,2011 Volkswagen CrossTouran,2011 Volkswagen CrossPolo,2011 Volkswagen CrossGolf,2011 Volkswagen Amarok,2010 Volkswagen Polo,2010 Volkswagen Golf,2009 Volkswagen Phaeton,2009 Volkswagen Golf,2009 Volkswagen Gol,2008 Volkswagen Phaeton,2008 Volkswagen Golf Variant,2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI Concept,2008 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion,2007 Volkswagen Up Concept,2007 Volkswagen Touran,2007 Volkswagen Touareg,2007 Volkswagen Eos,2006 Volkswagen Rabbit,2006 Volkswagen Passat,2006 Volkswagen Jetta,2006 Volkswagen Eos,2006 Volkswagen CrossPolo,2005 Volkswagen Touareg,2005 Volkswagen Golf,2005 Volkswagen Fox,2004 Volkswagen RaceTouareg,2004 Volkswagen Golf,2004 Volkswagen Concept T,2004 Volkswagen Concept C,2003 Volkswagen Touran,2003 Volkswagen Passat

 

Note:

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