Alfa Romeo P0115 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Performance

Description

OBD-II Trouble Code Description for P0115 Alfa Romeo

Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit

What does this mean?

OBD2 Code P0115 Alfa Romeo definition:
The ECT (Engine coolant temperature) sensor is basically a thermistor that changes resistance with temperature. Usually a two wire sensor, a 5Volt reference from PCM (Powertrain Control Module) and ground signal to PCM. This is different from a temperature SENDER (which usually operates the dash temperature gauge and operates in a similar way as the SENSOR, only it’s a different circuit than what a P0115 Alfa Romeo is referring to). As the temperature of the coolant changes, the resistance changes on the ground signal to the PCM. When the engine is cold, the resistance is high. When the engine is warm, the resistance is low. If the PCM detects a voltage condition that seems abnormally low or high, P0115 Alfa Romeo will set.

Symptoms

Possible sumptoms of OBD code P0115 Alfa Romeo
Symptoms of a P0115 Alfa Romeo DTC code may include: MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) illumination will always occur Vehicle may be hard to start May blow a lot of black smoke and run extremely rich Engine may want to die or backfire in tailpipe Engine may run lean and increased Nox emissions may be apparent (Requires gas analyzer) Cooling fans may run all the time when they shouldn’t be, or not at all when they should be

Causes

Possible causes of OBD code P0115 Alfa Romeo
Usually the cause can be traced to a bad ECT sensor, however that doesn’t preclude the following: Wiring or connector damaged at sensor Open or short in reference or signal circuit Open or short in signal circuit Bad PCM

Possible Solutions

First, visually check the sensor for damage to wiring or connector and repair as necessary. Then, if you have access to a scanner, determine what the temperature of the engine is. (If you don’t have access to a scan tool, using the dash temperature gauge may not be an effective way to determine coolant temperature. This is because the P0115 Alfa Romeo code is referring to the ECT SENSOR, and the dash gauge is operated by, usually a one-wire SENDER. Basically a different sensor that the code doesn’t refer to.) 2. If the engine temperature is abnormally high, around 280 deg. F, that’s abnormal. Unplug the sensor on the engine and see if the signal drops to, say, negative 50 deg. F. If it does, then it’s a good bet the sensor is bad, internally shorted, causing a low resistance signal to be sent to the PCM. However if you want to be sure it’s the sensor and not the wiring, there’s a couple tests you can do. With the ECT sensor unplugged, check that you have 5 volts on the reference circuit with KOEO (Key on engine off). Also you can check the resistance of the sensor to ground using an Ohm meter. The resistance of a normal sensor to ground will vary a little depending on the vehicle, but basically, if the temp of the engine is around 200 deg. F., the resistance will be about 200 Ohms. If the temperature is about 0 def. F., the resistance will be over 10,000 Ohms. With this test you should be able to tell if the resistance of the sensor matches the temperature of the engine. If it’s not accurate according to your engine’s temperature, then you probably have a bad sensor. 3. Now, if the temperature of the engine according to the scanner is around 280 deg. F. and unplugging the sensor doesn’t cause the reading to drop to negative 50 deg. F, but it stays at the same high temperature reading, then you’ll need to repair the short on the signal circuit(ground) to the PCM. It’s shorted directly to ground somewhere. 4. If your temperature reading of the engine according to the scanner is showing negative 50 deg. F or so, (and you don’t live in the arctic!) unplug the sensor and check for a 5V reference present at the sensor. 5. If there isn’t, then check at the PCM connector for proper 5V reference. If it’s present at the PCM connector, then repair the open or short on 5V reference from PCM. If there is no 5V reference present at the PCM connector, then you’re done with your diagnosis and you may have a PCM fault. 6. If the 5V reference circuit is intact, then check the ground signal to the PCM using the previous ground resistance test. If the resistance isn’t normal for the temperature of the engine, then ohm the resistance of the ground signal to the PCM by removing the ground signal wire from the PCM connector. The wire should have no resistance, unplugged from the PCM to the sensor. If it does, repair open in the signal to the PCM. If it doesn’t have any resistance on the ground signal wire and the resistance test of the sensor is normal, then suspect a faulty PCM.

The OBD2 Code Information Be Applicable For Alfa Romeo:

2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo new,,2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta new,,2014 Alfa Romeo 4C,,2013 Alfa Romeo Gloria Concept,,2013 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Touring,,2012 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Touring Concept,,2011 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale,,2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta,,2011 Alfa Romeo 4C Concept,,2010 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa,,2010 Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept,,2010 Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde,,2010 Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 MultiAir,,2010 Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta Concept,,2010 Alfa Romeo 159 1750 TBi,,2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo UK Version,,2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA Concept,,2009 Alfa Romeo Mi.To,,2009 Alfa Romeo Brera S,,2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider,,2009 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon,,2009 Alfa Romeo 159,,2007 Alfa Romeo GT Q2,,2007 Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione,,2007 Alfa Romeo 147 Q2,,2007 Alfa Romeo 147 Murphy and Nye,,2007 Alfa Romeo 147 CnC,,2006 Alfa Romeo Spider UK Version,,2006 Alfa Romeo Spider,,2006 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon,,2005 Alfa Romeo Brera UK Version,,2005 Alfa Romeo Brera,,2005 Alfa Romeo 159,,2004 Alfa Romeo Visconti Concept ItalDesign,,2004 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione,,2004 Alfa Romeo 166,,2004 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Autodelta,,2004 Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon Q4,,2004 Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon,,2004 Alfa Romeo 147 5door,,2004 Alfa Romeo 147 3door,,2003 Alfa Romeo Spider,,2003 Alfa Romeo Kamal Concept,,2003 Alfa Romeo GTV,,2003 Alfa Romeo GT,,2003 Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon 2.0 JTD,,2003 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Autodelta,,2003 Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD,,2003 Alfa Romeo 147 TI,,2002 Alfa Romeo 147 JTD 16V,,2002 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

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