Description
OBD-II Trouble Code Description for P0117 BMW
Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Low
What does this mean?
OBD2 Code P0117 BMW 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 BMW code will set.
Symptoms
Possible sumptoms of OBD code P0117 BMW
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 BMW
Potential causes of the P0117 BMW 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 BMWBLY 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 BMW:
2013 BMW X6 M50d,2013 BMW X6,2013 BMW X5 eDrive Concept,2013 BMW X5 Security Plus Concept,2013 BMW X5 M50d,2013 BMW X4 Concept,2013 BMW X1,2013 BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe,2013 BMW M6 Coupe US-Version,2013 BMW M6 Coupe,2013 BMW M6 Convertible,2013 BMW M5 US-Version,2013 BMW M550d xDrive Touring,2013 BMW M550d xDrive,2013 BMW M4 Coupe Concept,2013 BMW M135i,2013 BMW Active Tourer Outdoor Concept,2013 BMW 7 ActiveHybrid,2013 BMW 750Li,2013 BMW 7-Series,2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe,2013 BMW 640d xDrive Coupe,2013 BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe UK Version,2013 BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe,2013 BMW 5 ActiveHybrid,2013 BMW 4-Series Coupe Concept,2013 BMW 3 ActiveHybrid,2013 BMW 3-Series Touring,2013 BMW 3-Series Long Wheelbase,2013 BMW 1-Series 3-door,2012 BMW i8 Spyder Concept,2012 BMW i3 Coupe Concept,2012 BMW Zagato Roadster Concept,2012 BMW Zagato Coupe Concept,2012 BMW M5 UK Version,2012 BMW M5,2012 BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition,2012 BMW M3 CRT,2012 BMW M135i Concept,2012 BMW Active Tourer Concept,2012 BMW 650i Convertible,2012 BMW 640d Coupe,2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe,2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible,2012 BMW 3-Series,2012 BMW 1-Series Urban Line,2012 BMW 1-Series Sport Line,2012 BMW 1-Series Coupe,2012 BMW 1-Series Convertible,2012 BMW 1-Series,2011 BMW i8 Concept,2011 BMW i3 Concept,2011 BMW Z4,2011 BMW X5,2011 BMW X3 xDrive35i,2011 BMW X3 xDrive20d,2011 BMW X3,2011 BMW X1 xDrive28i,2011 BMW M5 Concept,2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept,2011 BMW M3 GTS,2011 BMW M3 Frozen Gray,2011 BMW ConnectedDrive Concept,2011 BMW ActiveE Concept,2011 BMW 750Li,2011 BMW 5-Series Touring,2011 BMW 5-Series Long-Wheelbase,2011 BMW 5-Series,2011 BMW 335is Coupe,2011 BMW 328 Hommage Concept,2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe,2011 BMW 3-Series Convertible,2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe US Version,2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe UK Version,2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe MotoGP Safety Car,2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe,2010 BMW Z4 UK Version,2010 BMW Z4 GT3,2010 BMW Z4,2010 BMW X6 M,2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid,2010 BMW X5 M,2010 BMW X1,2010 BMW Scooter C Concept,2010 BMW M3,2010 BMW Gran Coupe Concept,2010 BMW ActiveE Concept,2010 BMW 7 ActiveHybrid,2010 BMW 760Li,2010 BMW 7-Series High Security,2010 BMW 6-Series Coupe Concept,2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo,2010 BMW 5-Series ActiveHybrid Concept,2010 BMW 320d EfficientDynamics,2010 BMW 135i Coupe,2010 BMW 135i Convertible,2009 BMW X6 UK Version,2009 BMW X6,2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d BluePerformance,2009 BMW X5 Security Plus,2009 BMW X5 Security,2009 BMW X3 Limited Sport Edition,2009 BMW M3 Saloon UK Version,2009 BMW M3 Race Version,2009 BMW M3 Convertible UK Version,2009 BMW M3 Convertible,2009 BMW EfficientDynamics Concept,2009 BMW 750Li,2009 BMW 730d,2009 BMW 7-Series UK Version,2009 BMW 7-Series,2009 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo Concept,2009 BMW 335d BluePerformance,2009 BMW 3-Series UK Version,2009 BMW 3-Series Touring UK Version,2009 BMW 3-Series Touring,2009 BMW 3-Series,2009 BMW 1-Series Convertible UK Version,2008 BMW X5 M-Package,2008 BMW X1 Concept,2008 BMW M5 Touring,2008 BMW M3 Sedan US-Version,2008 BMW M3 Sedan,2008 BMW M3 Coupe US-Version,2008 BMW M3 Coupe UK Version,2008 BMW M3 Coupe,2008 BMW M1 Concept,2008 BMW M-Zero Concept,2008 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model Concept,2008 BMW EfficientDynamics Concept,2008 BMW Coupe Range,2008 BMW 7-Series ActiveHybrid Concept,2008 BMW 650i Convertible,2008 BMW 635d Coupe,2008 BMW 530i,2008 BMW 5-Series Touring,2008 BMW 5-Series Security,2008 BMW 5-Series,2008 BMW 135i Coupe,2008 BMW 128i Convertible,2008 BMW 1-Series Range,2008 BMW 1-Series Coupe,2008 BMW 1-Series Cabrio,2008 BMW 1-Series 5-door,2008 BMW 1-Series 3-door,2007 BMW X6 Concept,2007 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Concept,2007 BMW X5 4.8i,2007 BMW X5 3.0d,2007 BMW X3,2007 BMW M6 Convertible Neiman Marcus,2007 BMW M6 Cabrio,2007 BMW M5,2007 BMW M3 Concept,2007 BMW Hydrogen 7,2007 BMW Concept CS,2007 BMW 530Li,2007 BMW 335i Coupe,2007 BMW 335i Convertible,2007 BMW 1-Series tii Concept,2006 BMW Z4 Roadster,2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster,2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe UK version,2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe,2006 BMW Z4 Coupe,2006 BMW Mille Miglia Coupe Concept,2006 BMW Art Car Collection,2006 BMW 7 Series High Security,2006 BMW 760Li,2006 BMW 750i,2006 BMW 750Li with Shadow Line,2006 BMW 750Li,2006 BMW 330i,2006 BMW 325i Touring,2006 BMW 320si E90 WTCC,2006 BMW 320si,2006 BMW 320d Touring,2006 BMW 320d,2005 BMW Z4 Coupe Concept,2005 BMW X5,2005 BMW X3 EfficientDynamics Concept,2005 BMW X3,2005 BMW M6,2005 BMW M5,2005 BMW H2R,2005 BMW 630i,2005 BMW 545i Touring,2005 BMW 530xi Touring,2005 BMW 530xi,2005 BMW 530d Touring,2005 BMW 330i M-Package,2005 BMW 320d Touring,2005 BMW 130i M-Package,2005 BMW 130i,2005 BMW 120i UK Version,2005 BMW 120i,2005 BMW 120d,2004 BMW X5 4.8is,2004 BMW X5 4.4i,2004 BMW X3 3.0i,2004 BMW X3 2.0d,2004 BMW H2R Hydrogen Racecar,2004 BMW Concept M5,2004 BMW 645Ci Convertible,2004 BMW 645Ci,2004 BMW 5 Series,2004 BMW 530i,2004 BMW 530d,2004 BMW 330Ci Coupe,2004 BMW 330Ci Convertible,2004 BMW 330Cd Coupe,2004 BMW 325Ci Coupe,2004 BMW 320Cd Convertible,2004 BMW 318Ci Convertible,2003 BMW Z4 2.5i,2003 BMW Z4,2003 BMW M3 CSL,2003 BMW 760Li E66,2003 BMW 325ti Compact,2003 BMW 3-Series Compact,2002 BMW xActivity Concept,2002 BMW X5 4.6is,2002 BMW CS1 Concept,2002 BMW 7 Series,2002 BMW 760i,2002 BMW 760Li Yachtline Concept,2002 BMW 740d,2002 BMW 730d,2002 BMW 3-Series Touring,2002 BMW 3-Series,2001 BMW Z8
Note:
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