P2182 Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Malfunction

OBD-II DTC Datasheet

Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Malfunction

What does this mean?

This Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) is considered generic because it applies to all 1996 OBD-II vehicles (e.g. Vauxhall, VW, Ford, Dodge, etc.). Specific troubleshooting and repair steps may vary slightly depending on the brand / model.

An ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature) sensor is basically a thermistor whose resistance changes with temperature. Typically 5-wire sensor, 2182V reference signal from PCM (Powertrain Control Module) and ground signal to PCM. This is different from the TEMPERATURE SENSOR (which normally controls the dashboard temperature sensor and works the same as the SENSOR, only it is a different circuit than what PXNUMX has in mind).

When the coolant temperature changes, the ground resistance changes at the PCM. When the engine is cold, the resistance is great. When the engine is warm, the resistance is low. If the PCM detects a voltage condition that appears to be abnormally low or high, P2182 install.

Example of an ECT engine coolant temperature sensor

Note. This DTC is basically the same as P0115, however the difference with this DTC is that it relates to ECT circuit # 2. Therefore, vehicles with this code mean they have two ECT sensors. Make sure you are diagnosing the correct sensor circuit.

symptoms

DTC P2182 symptoms can range from nothing other than the check engine light to one or more of the following:

MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) Always On
The car may be difficult to start
Can blow out a lot of black smoke and become very rich
The engine may stall or the exhaust pipe may catch fire.
The engine may run on a lean mixture and may experience increased NOx emissions (gas analyzer required)
Cooling fans can run continuously when they shouldn't be running, or not when they should be running at all.

reasons

Usually the cause can be attributed to a faulty ECT sensor, however, this does not exclude the following:

Damaged wiring or connector on # 2 ECT sensor
Open or short circuit in the reference or signal circuit
Open or short circuit in signal circuit ECT # 2
Bad PCM

Possible solutions

First, visually inspect the # 2 coolant temperature sensor for damaged wiring or connector and repair if necessary. Then, if you have access to a scanner, determine what the engine temperature is. (If you do not have access to a scan tool, using the dash temperature gauge can be an ineffective way to determine the coolant temperature. This is because P2182 refers to ECT SENSOR # 2 and the dashboard is powered by, usually a single wire SENDER. This is basically a different sensor that the code does not apply to.)

2. If the engine temperature is excessively high, about 280 degrees. F, this is not normal. Disconnect the sensor on the engine and see if the signal drops to, say, minus 50 degrees. F. If so, you can bet the sensor is faulty, shorted internally, causing a low resistance signal to be sent to the PCM. However, if you want to make sure that it is the sensor and not the wiring, you can do a couple of tests. With the ECT sensor disabled, make sure you have 5 volts in the reference circuit with KOEO (engine off key). You can also check the resistance of the sensor to ground with an ohmmeter. The resistance of the normal sensor to ground will differ slightly depending on the vehicle, but mostly if the engine temperature is around 200 degrees. F., the resistance will be about 200 ohms. If the temperature is around 0 def. F., the resistance will be over 10,000 ohms. With this test, you will be able to determine if the sensor resistance matches the engine temperature. If it doesn't match your engine temperature, then you probably have a faulty sensor.

3. Now, if the engine temperature according to the scanner is about 280 degrees. F. and disconnecting the sensor does not lead to a drop in the reading to negative 50 degrees. F, but it stays at the same high temperature reading, then you need to clear the signal circuit (ground) short to the PCM. It is shorted somewhere directly to ground.

4. If the readings of the engine temperature on the scanner show negative 50 degrees. Something like this (and you do not live in the Arctic!) Disconnect the sensor and check for a 5V reference voltage on the sensor.

5. If not, check the PCM connector for proper 5V reference. If present on the PCM connector, repair the open or short circuit in the 5V reference from the PCM. If there is no 5V reference voltage on the PCM connector, then you have completed the diagnosis and the PCM may be faulty. 6. If the 5V reference circuit is intact, test the ground signal at the PCM using the previous ground resistance test. If the resistance does not match the engine temperature, reduce the resistance of the ground signal to the PCM by disconnecting the ground signal wire from the PCM connector. The wire must be free of resistance, disconnected from the PCM to the sensor. If so, repair the gap in the signal to the PCM. If it has no resistance on the signal ground wire and the sensor resistance test is normal, then suspect a faulty PCM.

Corresponding ECT sensor circuit codes: P0115, P0116, P0117, P0118, P0119, P0125, P0128, P2183, P2184, P2185, P2186

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