Coolant Temperature Sensor Problem

It is important that the coolant temperature sensor is functional at all times, otherwise it will not be able to correctly determine the temperature of the coolant inside an internal combustion engine.

The temperature information detected by the sensor is sent to the engine control unit. From there, the engine control unit adjusts the ignition timing and fuel injection based on the data received from the sensor. If there is a problem with the sensor, it will reduce your fuel consumption and cause your car to overheat; among other things. Fortunately, the symptoms of a faulty coolant temperature sensor are easy to spot.

Poor fuel economy is a major symptom of a failing coolant temperature sensor. What happens is that the faulty sensor will send a wrong signal to the engine control unit, which will then disrupt the calculations for the amount of fuel needed and the timing of fuel injections.

This will result in more fuel being injected than is actually necessary. In other words, your car will consume more fuel than needed, meaning you will have to buy gasoline more frequently. Another symptom you may encounter is black smoke coming from your car’s exhaust pipe. This occurs when the incorrect signal causes the computer to excessively mix fuel with air. As a result, the fuel cannot be burned when it reaches the combustion chamber. Instead, it burns while passing through the exhaust pipes, causing black smoke to come out. The black smoke will continue to come out until you replace the sensor.

As mentioned earlier, your engine may overheat if your coolant temperature sensor malfunctions. This malfunction will send a signal that tells the engine control unit to heat up rather than cool down. When this happens, there will be misfires and engine overheating.

You may even see the “Check Engine” light come on from your dashboard area. Newer cars are programmed to turn on this light when a problem with the sensor signal is detected. Of course, you should always be cautious when you see any kind of engine light come on. In any case, take your vehicle to the nearest auto mechanic and ask them to inspect your engine immediately. They will most likely tell you that you have a problem with your coolant temperature sensor, assuming there is nothing else wrong with your vehicle’s engine.