Audi P0116 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance Problem

Description

OBD-II Trouble Code Description for P0116 Audi

Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Range/Performance

What does this mean?

OBD2 Code P0116 Audi definition:
The ECT (Engine coolant temperature) sensor is a thermistor which changes resistance based on temperature of the coolant in contact with it. The ECT sensor will be located in the block or coolant passage. Usually it is a two wire sensor. One wire is a 5 Volt supply from the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) to the ECT. The other is a ground to the ECT.

As the temperature of the coolant changes the resistance on the signal wire changes accordingly. The PCM monitors the reading and determines coolant temperature in order to perform essential engine fuel management. When engine coolant is low, sensor resistance is high. The PCM will see a high signal voltage (low temperature). When coolant is warm, the sensor’s resistance is low and the PCM will see a high temperature. The PCM expects to see slow resistance changes on the ECT signal circuit. If it sees a quick change in voltage that isn’t consistent with an engine warming up, this P0116 Audi code will set. Or if it sees a lack of change in ECT signal, this code may set.

Symptoms

Possible sumptoms of OBD code P0116 Audi
There may be no noticeable symptoms if the problem is very intermittent, however the following may occur: MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) illumination Poor drivability Black smoke at tailpipe Poor fuel economy May not idle May exhibit stalling or misfires

Causes

Possible causes of OBD code P0116 Audi
Potential causes of the P0116 Audi code include: Missing or stuck-open thermostat Bad ECT sensor Short or open on signal wire Short or open on ground wire Poor connections in wiring

Possible Solutions

If there are any other ECT sensor codes, diagnose them first. Using a scan tool, check the ECT reading. On a cold engine, it should match the IAT reading or should be equal to ambient (outside) temperature reading. If it does match the IAT or ambient temp, check the freeze frame data on your scan tool (if equipped). The saved data should tell you what the ECT reading was when the fault occurred. A) If the saved info indicates that the engine coolant reading was at the coldest exreme (around -30 deg. F) then that’s a good indication the ECT resistance was intermittently high (unless you live in Anchorage!) Check for an open in the ECT sensor ground and signal circuits and repair as necessary. If they appear okay, warm the engine up while monitoring the ECT for any intermittent jumps high or low. If there are replace the ECT. B) If the saved info indicates that the engine coolant reading was at the warmest exreme (around 250+ deg.F) then that’s a good indication the ECT resistance was intermittently low. Check for a short to ground on the signal circuit and repair as necessary. If it appears okay, warm the engine up while monitoring the ECT for any intermittent jumps high or low. If there are replace the ECT.

Related Codes

P0115 Audi P0117 Audi P0118 Audi P0119 Audi P0125 Audi P0128 Audi


The OBD2 Code Information Be Applicable For Audi:

2013 Audi TT ultra quattro Concept,2013 Audi TT RS plus,2013 Audi TTS Roadster competition,2013 Audi TTS Coupe competition,2013 Audi Sport quattro Concept,2013 Audi SQ5 TDI,2013 Audi S8,2013 Audi S7 Sportback,2013 Audi S6 Avant,2013 Audi S6,2013 Audi S4 Avant,2013 Audi S4,2013 Audi RS5 DTM,2013 Audi RS4 Avant,2013 Audi R8 e-tron Concept,2013 Audi R8 V10 plus,2013 Audi R8 V10 Spyder,2013 Audi R8 V10,2013 Audi R8,2013 Audi Q5,2013 Audi Nanuk quattro Concept,2013 Audi A8 L Hybrid,2013 Audi A8 Hybrid,2013 Audi A6 allroad quattro,2013 Audi A6 Black Edition,2013 Audi A4 allroad quattro,2013 Audi A4 Avant,2013 Audi A4,2013 Audi A3 e-tron Concept,2013 Audi A3,2013 Audi A1 quattro,2012 Audi e-bike Worthersee Concept,2012 Audi S5 Sportback,2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet,2012 Audi S5,2012 Audi RS Q3 Concept,2012 Audi RS5,2012 Audi RS3 Sportback,2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder,2012 Audi R8 Exclusive Selection,2012 Audi Q5 Hybrid quattro,2012 Audi Q3 Vail Concept,2012 Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept,2012 Audi Q3,2012 Audi Crosslane Coupe Concept,2012 Audi A8 L Security,2012 Audi A6 L e-tron Concept,2012 Audi A6 Hybrid,2012 Audi A6 Avant,2012 Audi A6,2012 Audi A5 Sportback,2012 Audi A5 DTM,2012 Audi A5 Coupe,2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet,2012 Audi A1 amplified,2012 Audi A1 Sportback,2011 Audi Urban Spyder Concept,2011 Audi Urban Concept,2011 Audi TT Roadster,2011 Audi TT Coupe,2011 Audi TTS Roadster,2011 Audi TTS Coupe,2011 Audi S5 Sportback,2011 Audi RS5,2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro,2011 Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI quattro,2011 Audi R8 GT,2011 Audi R18,2011 Audi Q7,2011 Audi A8 L,2011 Audi A8,2011 Audi A7 Sportback,2011 Audi A3 e-tron Concept,2011 Audi A3 Sportback,2011 Audi A3 Concept,2011 Audi A3 Cabriolet,2011 Audi A3,2011 Audi A2 Concept,2011 Audi A1 clubsport quattro Concept,2011 Audi A1,2010 Audi quattro Concept,2010 Audi e-tron Spyder Concept,2010 Audi e-tron Concept,2010 Audi TT RS Roadster,2010 Audi TT RS,2010 Audi TT GT4 Concept,2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet,2010 Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI quattro,2010 Audi Q7,2010 Audi A8 Hybrid Concept,2010 Audi A5 Sportback,2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet,2010 Audi A4 allroad quattro,2010 Audi A1 e-tron Concept,2009 Audi e-tron Concept,2009 Audi TTS Roadster,2009 Audi TTS Coupe,2009 Audi Sportback Concept,2009 Audi S6 Avant,2009 Audi S6,2009 Audi S4 Avant,2009 Audi S4,2009 Audi S3 Sportback,2009 Audi S3,2009 Audi RS6,2009 Audi R8 GT3,2009 Audi Q7 V12 TDI,2009 Audi Q5 Custom Concept,2009 Audi Q5,2009 Audi A6 allroad quattro,2009 Audi A6 Avant,2009 Audi A6,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi A4,2009 Audi A3 Sportback,2009 Audi A3,2008 Audi TT clubsport quattro Concept,2008 Audi TT Roadster 3.2 quattro,2008 Audi TT Coupe,2008 Audi S8,2008 Audi S6,2008 Audi S5,2008 Audi S4 Cabriolet,2008 Audi RS6 Avant UK Version,2008 Audi RS6 Avant,2008 Audi RS4 Cabriolet,2008 Audi RS4,2008 Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept,2008 Audi R8 TDI Le Mans Concept,2008 Audi R8,2008 Audi Q7,2008 Audi A8 L,2008 Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro,2008 Audi A8L W12 quattro,2008 Audi A8,2008 Audi A6 Avant,2008 Audi A6,2008 Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro,2008 Audi A5,2008 Audi A4 US Version,2008 Audi A4 TDI Concept e,2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet,2008 Audi A4,2008 Audi A3 US Version,2008 Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro Concept,2008 Audi A3 Cabriolet,2008 Audi A1 Sportback Concept,2007 Audi metroproject quattro Concept,2007 Audi TT clubsport quattro Concept,2007 Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI,2007 Audi TT Roadster,2007 Audi TT Coupe S-line,2007 Audi TT Coupe,2007 Audi S3,2007 Audi R8,2007 Audi Q7 V12 TDI Concept,2007 Audi Q7 V12 TDI,2007 Audi Cross Coupe quattro Concept,2007 Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro Concept,2006 Audi S8,2006 Audi S6 Avant,2006 Audi S6,2006 Audi S4 Cabriolet,2006 Audi Roadjet Concept,2006 Audi RS 4 Cabriolet,2006 Audi RS 4 Avant,2006 Audi RS4,2006 Audi Q7,2006 Audi A8 Security,2006 Audi A6 allroad quattro,2006 Audi A4 Cabriolet,2006 Audi A3 2.0T,2005 Audi allroad quattro V8 4.2,2005 Audi allroad quattro V6 2.7T,2005 Audi TT quattro sport,2005 Audi TT Roadster 3.2,2005 Audi TT Roadster 1.8T,2005 Audi TT Coupe 3.2,2005 Audi TT Coupe 1.8T,2005 Audi Shooting Brake Concept,2005 Audi S4 Cabriolet,2005 Audi S4 Avant,2005 Audi S4,2005 Audi RS4,2005 Audi Q7 Hybrid Concept,2005 Audi Allroad quattro Concept,2005 Audi A8 L W12,2005 Audi A8 L 4.2,2005 Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro,2005 Audi A8 4.2,2005 Audi A8 3.2 FSI quattro,2005 Audi A8L 4.2 TDI quattro,2005 Audi A6 Avant,2005 Audi A6 4.2 quattro Sline,2005 Audi A6 3.2,2005 Audi A6 3.0 TDI quattro,2005 Audi A6L,2005 Audi A4 DTM Edition,2005 Audi A4 Cabriolet,2005 Audi A4 Avant 3.2 quattro,2005 Audi A4 3.2 quattro,2005 Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro,2005 Audi A4 2.0T,2005 Audi A3 2.0 TDI 3-door,2004 Audi S4 Cabriolet,2004 Audi RSQ Concept,2004 Audi RS6 plus,2004 Audi A8 L 6.0 W12 quattro,2004 Audi A8 L 3.0 quattro,2004 Audi A8 4.2 quattro,2004 Audi A8 3.7 quattro,2004 Audi A8 3.0 TDI quattro,2004 Audi A8,2004 Audi A3 Sportback quattro,2004 Audi A3 Sportback S-line,2004 Audi A3 Sportback,2004 Audi A3 3-door,2003 Audi allroad quattro,2003 Audi TT Roadster 3.2 quattro,2003 Audi TT 3.2 DSG quattro,2003 Audi Pikes Peake quattro Concept,2003 Audi Nuvolari quattro Concept,2003 Audi Le Mans quattro Concept,2003 Audi A8 L 4.2 quattro,2003 Audi A8 4.0 TDI quattro,2003 Audi A4,2003 Audi A3 3.2 V6 3-door,2003 Audi A3 3-door,2003 Audi A2,2002 Audi allroad quattro 4.2,2002 Audi allroad quattro,2002 Audi TT Roadster,2002 Audi S6 Avant,2002 Audi S6,2002 Audi S4 Avant,2002 Audi S4,2002 Audi S3,2002 Audi RS6 Sedan,2002 Audi RS6 Avant,2002 Audi RS6,2002 Audi A6,2002 Audi A4 Cabriolet 3.0,2002 Audi A4 Cabriolet 2.4,2002 Audi A4 Cabriolet 1.8 T,2002 Audi A4 Cabriolet,2002 Audi A4 Avant,2002 Audi A4,2002 Audi A3 3-door,2002 Audi A2,2001 Audi TT Coupe,2001 Audi Avantissimo Concept,2001 Audi A8 L 6.0 quattro,2001 Audi A6 Avant,2001 Audi A6,2001 Audi A4 Avant,2001 Audi A4

 

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