ECT sensor voltage

Tiny
CLAYTON TEMPLE
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 4.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 112,000 MILES
What should the voltage be on the ECT sensor while engine is cold I’m getting 2.56 volts when ECM is supposed to be supplying 5 volts. It’s a new sensor also just replaced today.
Thursday, February 13th, 2020 AT 12:06 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

The Power-train Control Module[PCM]/Engine Control Unit[ECU] uses resistance readings to measure the temperature of the coolant, not voltage. In the diagrams down below I have included the description of how the Engine Coolant Temperature sensor[ECT] works and expected resistance values at varying coolant temperatures for your vehicle. Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Thursday, February 13th, 2020 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
CLAYTON TEMPLE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I’ve been using ALDL droid and I’m getting a coolant temp sensor Alarm trigger but the temperature reading is somewhat correct. I am not getting any codes on ECM either. Every now and then I have an idling issue though and today while driving my truck wouldn’t shift into overdrive temperature gauge stopped reading oil pressure gauge stopped reading and also my ALDL cable stopped reading and communicating then everything started working again.
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Thursday, February 13th, 2020 AT 12:18 PM
Tiny
CLAYTON TEMPLE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I got a resistance reading of 960s with the engine cold and multi-meter set to 200 ohms I checked it by putting hot on yellow wire and ground on black wire with a wire piercing probe and key was off.
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Thursday, February 13th, 2020 AT 12:28 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

If the engine and the coolant was cold, then that reading is too low. I would recommend taking that sensor back and exchanging it for a different one. Also, please make sure that you are getting the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor and not the switch. There are two ECT's for your vehicle. The sensor is what the PCM uses and there is also a switch, that looks just like the sensor but is used by the coolant temperature gauge. They have different resistance values. In the diagrams down below I have included a diagram of the locations of both the ECT sensor and switch for your vehicle as well as the Original Equipment Manufacturer[OEM] part numbers for both for your reference. Please get back to us with how everything turns out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Friday, February 14th, 2020 AT 5:53 AM

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