What Are The Symptoms Of Bad Coolant Temperature Sensor In BMW X1?

BMW X1 is an ultimate driving machine having comfort inside and character outside. The elevated position present inside the cozy interior gives the operative a clear utility point and puts the driver in a perfect position of control.

It has set the world on fire due to its profuse legroom, trenchant handling, swift acceleration, and dynamic traction control. However, when any of its components fail like- coolant temperature sensor, it becomes unreliable.

By going through this article, a driver can get a piece of enlightenment on the signs of a defective coolant temperature sensor and its solution.

Functions of coolant temperature sensor:

The coolant temperature sensor is going by the name of a coolant temperature switch or engine management sensor. The temperature of the coolant flowing through the vehicle’s engine is monitored by this sensor. After measuring the temperature of the coolant, the sensor performs taking the help of electrical resistance to determine the accurate temperature. The evidence is then sent to the speed machine’s computer so that the needful amendments can be made to the engine’s timing and fuel calculation required for solid-gold performance. There are the vehicles that contain more than one coolant temperature sensor. However, the use of multiple coolant temperature sensors s is absolutely elective.

Symptoms of a bad coolant temperature sensor:

Since the engine coolant temperature sensor plays a pivotal role in reckoning the engine performance, thus, its sickness can lead to different engine performance issues. Fortunately, there are a few signs from which a car parent can catch a defective coolant temperature sensor before the defectiveness causes an irreversible damage to the engine. The signs are-

• Poor fuel mileage
• Activated check engine light
• Black exhaust smoke
• Engine overheating
• Rough idling
• Poor engine performance

Poor fuel mileage: Every driver has an eye on their vehicle’s economy. That’s why the reduction in the gas mileage is easily noticeable. If the coolant temperature sensor goes bad, it will send the wrong wave to the computer. Besides that, it won’t make fuel and timing calculations correctly required for optimal fuel economy that will eventually lead to a reduced fuel mileage.

Activated check engine light: If the vehicle’s computer detects any kind of issue with its sensor circuit, it will activate the check engine light. Thus, the presence of a faulty coolant temperature will cause the check engine light to come on. The check engine light will remain illuminated until the problem is resolved.

Black exhaust smoke: A bad coolant temperature sensor confuses the ECU by sending it the wrong signal. Once the ECU gets confused, it will enrich the air-fuel mixture unnecessarily. If the air-fuel mixture becomes too rich, then the gasoline can’t be burned modestly in the combustion chamber and will cause the exhaust to effuse black smoke.

Engine overheating: Apart from monitoring the temperature of the coolant, the sensor gives an idea of how hot the car engine is. Hence, if the sensor goes bad, it won’t do its job properly, and won’t give the message to the engine for shutting up and thereby causing overheating in the end.

Rough idling: A faulty coolant temperature sensor can’t maintain a healthy air-fuel ratio. The inappropriate air-fuel mixture can cause the engine to produce strange behaviors including- vibration at low speed, rough idling, etc.

Poor engine performance: The impact of the engine coolant temperature sensor is quite hard. A malfunctioning ECT sensor leads to a bad air-fuel mixture and causes performance drops conclusively.

Bad coolant temperature sensor fix:

Replacement might be the best solution to a bad coolant temperature. However, it is not the only solution for fixing the ECT sensor issue. Sometimes, the problem can be fixed without replacing the sensor itself. For that, a full diagnosis needs to be carried out using a digital multimeter and a scan tool.

The fact is- a coolant temperature sensor can’t work properly if it is not kept flooded in coolant completely. Thus, if the coolant is not at the desired level, then it won’t allow the ECT senor to work impeccably. In this case, the issue can be fixed by filling the coolant till the level has not reached the mark stated in the owner’s manual.

If the motor oil gets mixed with the coolant, it will contaminate the coolant fluid and cause the coolant temperature to go bad. It only happened when there is a leak in the engine block. So, ensure the engine block does not have any leak and make the ECT sensor last longer.

If the engine coolant temperature sensor is completely out of order, then it should be replaced straight away.

Conclusion:

The coolant temperature sensor is an important part of the vehicle’s cooling system. It should not go duff for the car’s ideal performance. But if it is on its last legs, and needs replacement, then consult a certified BMW specialist as trusted technicians have the right mechanic adroitness required for an error-free replacement.

We at MikeJohnsImport are Louisville’s leading source for master level service and repair exclusively of BMW and Mini Cooper. We have a team of BMW and Mini Cooper experts who guarantee to get all jobs done professionally.