P0116: Engine coolant temperature sensor range or performance
The engine temperature sensor reads values that do not match expectations. Often the real culprit is a thermostat stuck open, not the sensor.
| Code | P0116 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P01xx, Air and fuel metering |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P0116 means
The signal arrives, but the ECU does not find it believable: for example, the engine takes far too long to warm up, the temperature drops suddenly for no reason, or when cold it does not match intake air temperature. A thermostat stuck open causes exactly this and is a very common cause.
Most common causes
- Low coolant level or air in the system
- Thermostat stuck open, so the engine does not warm up
- The sensor itself has drifted or aged
- Corroded sensor connector skewing the reading
- Another temperature sensor reading wrong, so the comparison fails
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Engine slow to warm up or heater blowing lukewarm
- Temperature gauge lower than usual
- Higher fuel consumption
Can you drive with P0116?
With care You can drive, but if the sensor reads wrongly the ECU may not react to real overheating. Check the coolant level and get it to a garage soon.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
With the engine cold, check the coolant level in the expansion tank. Then watch coolant temperature in live data during a drive: if it never reaches the engine’s normal operating temperature (usually around 90 degrees) or drops a lot on open roads, suspect the thermostat.
How to read and clear P0116 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0116 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0112 Intake air temperature sensor circuit low
- P0113 Intake air temperature sensor circuit high
- P0114 Intake air temperature sensor circuit intermittent
- P0115 Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit fault
- P0117 Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit low
- P0118 Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit high
- P0119 Engine coolant temperature sensor circuit intermittent
- P011A Engine coolant temperature sensors 1 and 2 do not agree
- P0100 Mass or volume air flow sensor circuit fault
- P0101 Air flow sensor range or performance problem
- P0102 Air flow sensor circuit low input
- P0103 Air flow sensor circuit high input
To understand it properly
We explain how that system works, with drawings and no waffle, in our mechanics guide: Cooling.
What does code P0116 mean?
The signal arrives, but the ECU does not find it believable: for example, the engine takes far too long to warm up, the temperature drops suddenly for no reason, or when cold it does not match intake air temperature. A thermostat stuck open causes exactly this and is a very common cause.
Can you drive with P0116?
You can drive, but if the sensor reads wrongly the ECU may not react to real overheating. Check the coolant level and get it to a garage soon.
How do you clear P0116?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0116 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
