P0117 Engine coolant temperature circuit low
- System
- Powertrain - engine and transmission
What P0117 means
"Engine coolant temperature circuit low input" says the signal for coolant temperature sat below the lowest value that circuit is allowed to report. These sensors report temperature as a resistance, so the bottom of the electrical range corresponds to the hottest end of the scale, which is why the name states the input rather than a temperature. P0118 is the same limit crossed at the top.
This is a standard code. It means the same thing on every make of vehicle.
What the program shows for P0117
Coolant temp is a Dashboard gauge with its own normal band, so where the reported figure sits against that band is visible at a glance, and Intake air temp and Outside air sit beside it for comparison. The freeze frame tab lists the coolant temperature the car stored at the moment the code was set.
The Dashboard shows Short fuel trim and Long fuel trim, Air flow, Manifold pressure, Intake air temp, Coolant temp, Throttle position, Accelerator pedal, Air/fuel ratio, O2 sensor (rear), O2 sensor current and whether the Fuel system is in closed loop. Record a drive and the Analysis screen gives the total correction At idle, Fuel trim against air flow, and whether the air flow and pressure sensors agree; the Full scan's On-board self-tests list the Oxygen sensor results by bank and sensor. Record before and after a repair and Compare shows the change in short, long and total trim at idle plus which codes are Gone, New or Still there.
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