What are the symptoms of a faulty car temperature sensor?
2 Answers
Here are the symptoms of a faulty car temperature sensor: 1. The engine may overheat, and a yellow coolant temperature warning light will appear on the dashboard to alert the driver for inspection. When the car temperature sensor is damaged, it must be repaired promptly to prevent potential safety hazards during vehicle operation. 2. The car may experience difficulty starting when cold, as the system incorrectly determines that the engine oil and coolant temperatures are too low, preventing normal operation and making the engine hard to start. The car temperature sensor controls the temperature of the engine oil and coolant, thereby helping the engine run more efficiently.
A couple of days ago, my car's coolant temperature sensor failed, and I noticed the temperature gauge kept fluctuating. Sometimes it would suddenly spike into the red zone, triggering the engine warning light. The most annoying part was the severe shaking during cold starts—it felt like the engine wasn't getting enough fuel, with unstable RPMs and a noticeable lack of power. The cooling fan also acted erratically, sometimes spinning aggressively and other times not running at all, causing the coolant temperature to swing between overheating and normal. The A/C performance became inconsistent too, making the cabin unbearably hot in summer. Fuel consumption increased significantly—previously, a full tank could cover 500 km, but now it barely reaches 400+. The mechanic explained that the faulty sensor caused the ECU to miscalculate fuel injection, leading to excessive fueling. If left unrepaired, engine overheating could shorten its lifespan or even blow the head gasket. It's advisable to regularly inspect the cooling system to avoid breakdowns on the road.
