Circuit/System Description

The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor is a variable resistor that measures the temperature of the engine coolant. The engine control module (ECM) supplies 5 volts to the ECT sensor signal circuit and a ground for the low reference circuit.

The purpose of this diagnostic is to analyze the performance of the thermostat by comparing the measured ECT to a modeled ECT using information from the following inputs:

• ECT
• Engine load
• Intake air temperature (IAT)
• Mass air flow (MAF)
• Vehicle speed (VS)

The ECM uses the start-up ECT and the start-up intake air temperature (IAT) to begin the diagnostic calculation. The air flow into the engine is accumulated, and vehicle speed, distance, engine load, and engine run time are also factored in to determine if the ECT does increase normally and then maintains that temperature within a calibrated range of the modeled ECT.