P0116 Engine coolant temperature sensor 1 range/performance
What P0116 means
The coolant temperature sensor is giving a signal, but it does not behave as expected: it may not match other temperature sensors after the car has stood cold, or it rises too slowly or jumps. The engine computer may then fuel the engine incorrectly.
P0116 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- Medium
- Typical repair cost
- 40–200 €
- Workshop time
- 0.3–2 h
- Repair difficulty
- Easy
- DIY possible
- Yes
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- Yes
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Temperature gauge behaves oddly
- Cooling fan runs at the wrong times
- Long warm-up or poor cabin heating
- Higher fuel consumption
Common causes
- Drifting or slow-reacting coolant temperature sensor
- Thermostat stuck open, so the engine warms up too slowly
- Low coolant level or air pocket around the sensor
- High resistance in the connector or wiring
Can I keep driving with P0116?
You can drive, but have it checked within a week. Keep an eye on the coolant level and do not rely only on the temperature gauge.
What to check first
- Check the coolant level and bleed air from the system if it was recently drained.
- After a cold soak, compare the coolant temperature with the intake air temperature; then watch it rise during warm-up.
- If warm-up is slow, check the thermostat; if the reading is erratic, check the connector and wiring.
- Replace the sensor if it is out of specification.
Related codes
- P0115 Engine coolant temperature sensor 1 circuit
- P0117 Engine coolant temperature sensor 1 circuit low
- P0118 Engine coolant temperature sensor 1 circuit high
- P0113 Intake air temperature sensor 1 circuit high (bank 1)
- P0112 Intake air temperature sensor 1 circuit low (bank 1)
- P0111 Intake air temperature sensor 1 range/performance (bank 1)
- P0110 Intake air temperature sensor 1 circuit (bank 1)
- P0120 Throttle/pedal position sensor A circuit
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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