Description
OBD-II Trouble Code Description for P0117 Audi
Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Low
What does this mean?
OBD2 Code P0117 Audi 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 Audi code will set.
Symptoms
Possible sumptoms of OBD code P0117 Audi
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 Audi
Potential causes of the P0117 Audi 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 AudiBLY 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.
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
Note:
1. The list of automotive Makes at the right edge of the screen. The currently selected ODB-ii codes is for the Audi makes.
2. Look up the other OBD II Trouble Codes, please use the search box. Enter the 5 character trouble codes in the search box and submit the search.
3. Don’t assume a particular OBD-II code means the same for other auto manufacturers as there are many makes specific codes in use.
4. If your OBD-II trouble codes are for a different car, select that vehicle series before searching for the diagnostic codes because not all OBD2 codes used by one manufacture are used by the other makes.
5. The information contained on this site is presented for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any actions you take on your vehicle. If you have any doubt as to repairs on your vehicle, please contact your technician.