Chevrolet P0115 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Performance

Description

OBD-II Trouble Code Description for P0115 Chevrolet

Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit

What does this mean?

OBD2 Code P0115 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet will set.

Symptoms

Possible sumptoms of OBD code P0115 Chevrolet
Symptoms of a P0115 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet
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 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet

2013 Chevrolet Traverse2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer2013 Chevrolet Spark2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS2013 Chevrolet Onix2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO2013 Chevrolet Malibu2013 Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible2013 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE2012 Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept2012 Chevrolet Sonic Sedan2012 Chevrolet Sonic2012 Chevrolet Silverado2012 Chevrolet Orlando2012 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Centennial Edition2012 Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Racecar2012 Chevrolet Colorado2012 Chevrolet Code 130R Concept2012 Chevrolet Captiva2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL12012 Chevrolet Camaro EU Version2012 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible EU Version2012 Chevrolet Camaro COPO Convertible2012 Chevrolet Camaro COPO2012 Chevrolet Camaro 67 Hot Wheels Concept2012 Chevrolet Camaro 45th Anniversary Edition2012 Chevrolet Aveo Sedan2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Concept2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD2011 Chevrolet Sail2011 Chevrolet Miray Concept2011 Chevrolet Cruze2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition2011 Chevrolet Colorado Rally Concept2011 Chevrolet Colorado Concept2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS Convertible Indy 500 Pace Car2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Neiman Marcus2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible2011 Chevrolet Aveo2010 Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Concept2010 Chevrolet Spark2010 Chevrolet Equinox2010 Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Concept2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport2010 Chevrolet Camaro Transformers2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indy 500 Pace Car2010 Chevrolet Camaro SSX Concept2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS2010 Chevrolet Camaro Red Flash Concept2010 Chevrolet Camaro2010 Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept2010 Chevrolet Agile2009 Chevrolet Traverse2009 Chevrolet Stingray Concept2009 Chevrolet Cruze WTCC2009 Chevrolet Cruze2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR12009 Chevrolet Corvette GT12009 Chevrolet Aveo52008 Chevrolet Orlando Concept2008 Chevrolet Matiz2008 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT2008 Chevrolet Lumina SS2008 Chevrolet HHR SS2008 Chevrolet GPiX Concept2008 Chevrolet Equinox Sport2008 Chevrolet Corvette2008 Chevrolet Captiva Sport2008 Chevrolet Camaro LS7 Concept2008 Chevrolet Camaro GS Racecar Concept2008 Chevrolet Camaro Black Concept2008 Chevrolet Aveo2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept2007 Chevrolet Trax Concept2007 Chevrolet Tahoe2007 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ2007 Chevrolet Silverado Regular Cab2007 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab2007 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD LTZ Crew Cab2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LTZ Extended Cab2007 Chevrolet Jay Lenos Corvette C6RS E852007 Chevrolet HHR Panel2007 Chevrolet Groove Concept2007 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept2007 Chevrolet Beat Concept2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ2007 Chevrolet 34 Coupe E85 Concept2006 Chevrolet WTCC Ultra Concept2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS2006 Chevrolet Silverado Z71 Extended Cab2006 Chevrolet Silverado Intimidator SS2006 Chevrolet Silverado Hydrogen Military Vehicle2006 Chevrolet Sequel Concept2006 Chevrolet Nubira Station Wagon WTCC R2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS2006 Chevrolet Malibu SS2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SS2006 Chevrolet Kodiak C45002006 Chevrolet Impala SS2006 Chevrolet Impala2006 Chevrolet HHR LT2006 Chevrolet Epica2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 Pace Car2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z062006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS2006 Chevrolet Cobalt LT2006 Chevrolet Celta2006 Chevrolet Captiva2006 Chevrolet Camaro Concept2006 Chevrolet Aveo Sedan2005 Chevrolet West Coast Customs HHR2005 Chevrolet Uplander2005 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid2005 Chevrolet Kodiak2005 Chevrolet Equinox2005 Chevrolet Corvette C6R Race Car2005 Chevrolet Corvette C62005 Chevrolet Corvette2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged Coupe2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS2005 Chevrolet Cobalt2005 Chevrolet Cavalier Xtreme2005 Chevrolet Astra GSi 2.0 16V2005 Chevrolet Astra 2.0 Flexpower Elite2005 Chevrolet Astra 2.0 Flexpower Elegance2005 Chevrolet Astra 2.0 Flexpower Comfort2004 Chevrolet Tracker Turbo2004 Chevrolet Silverado2004 Chevrolet SOCAL SSR Bonneville Salt Flats2004 Chevrolet S3X Concept2004 Chevrolet Nomad Concept2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS2004 Chevrolet Matiz M3X Concept2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx2004 Chevrolet Malibu2004 Chevrolet Lumina SS2004 Chevrolet Impala SS2004 Chevrolet Express2004 Chevrolet Electric S-10 Concept2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Commemorative Edition2004 Chevrolet Colorado Regular Cab2004 Chevrolet Colorado LS Z71 Extended Cab2004 Chevrolet Colorado LS Z71 Crew Cab2004 Chevrolet Colorado LS Regular Cab2004 Chevrolet Colorado LS Extended Cab2004 Chevrolet Colorado LS Crew Cab2004 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab2004 Chevrolet Colorado Cruz2004 Chevrolet Cheyenne Concept2004 Chevrolet Aveo LS 5 Door2004 Chevrolet Aveo LS 4 Door

 

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