P0116: Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
Short answer: P0116 means “Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance”. It is a standard OBD-II code, so the basic meaning is the same on every car. Below is what it means on each of the 7 cars we cover, with a link to the full page for each car.
Standard OBD-II code Same meaning on all cars (SAE J2012).
P0116 on each car
| Car | Meaning on this car | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Passo (1st gen) | Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Range / Performance | low |
| Toyota Vitz (1st gen) | Coolant temperature sensor range / performance | medium |
| Toyota Corolla (11th gen, E170) | Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance | medium |
| Toyota Corolla (10th gen, E140) | Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance | medium |
| Honda City (5th gen, GM2) | Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance | medium |
| Honda Civic (10th gen, FC) | Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance | medium |
| Suzuki Wagon R (Pakistan, K10B) | Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance | medium |
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Poor drivability
- Black smoke at tailpipe
- Poor fuel economy
- May not idle
- May exhibit stalling or misfires
Likely causes
- Potential causes of the P0116 code include
- Missing or stuck-open thermostat
- Bad
- ECT sensor
- Short or open on signal wire
- Short or open on ground wire
- Poor connections in wiring
What to check, in order
- Read the code and freeze-frame data with an OBD-II scanner
- Check the connector and wiring of the part named in the code
- Test the part with scanner live data or a multimeter, using the values in the repair manual
- Fix the cause, clear the code and test-drive
Causes and checks above are the general meaning. The exact test steps and values differ by car: open your car’s page.