DTC P0116: ECT Sensor Circuit Performance: Description

An Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor monitors the temperature of the coolant. This input is used by the Engine Control Module (ECM) for engine control and as an enabling criteria for some diagnostics. The airflow into the engine is accumulated and used to determine if the vehicle has been driven within the conditions that would allow the engine coolant to heat up normally. If the coolant temperature does not increase normally, the diagnostics that use engine coolant temperature as enabling criteria may not run when expected. This DTC will run continuously. The ECM calculates a modeled temperature using start-up ECT, Mass Airflow (MAF), Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) and engine run time. If the ECM detects the calibrated amount of airflow and engine run time at any time is equal to a predetermined value, and the engine coolant is not within the range of the calibrated temperature, DTC P0116 sets.