Code P2185, I turned on the car, it made a weird sound, then overheated and was smoking?

Tiny
TALON LUVS WIFI
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  • 2006 HONDA ACCORD
  • 146,000 MILES
I installed a new radiator, thermostat and hoses in my mom's car. A mechanic wanted $587.00 for the repair. No way Jose, lol. I went to bleed the system of air and as soon as I turned on the car it made a weird sound then overheated and was smoking. All in less than a minute. I plugged my obd2 scanner and got the p2185 code which is the ect 2 sensor by the radiator driver's side. I inspected the connector and saw a lot of coolant in there. I called my mechanic friend and he said to spray brake cleaner. What baffles me is I checked the code said p2185 and then two times after said no codes found and then the p2185 code. The code didn't come on until I did this repair, so the sensor had to have been fine. I know coolant leaked onto it because of the coolant draining but I'd really like to know why it said no codes were found intermittently. Maybe I cleared the connection a bit with the brake cleaner and it came back. Here is a picture of the connector as soon as I disconnected it from the connection piece along with video after I started the car. Is p2185 most commonly associated with that particular sensor and not the thermostat or low coolant? Can it bd just spliced or does it have to be soldered? I have a multimeter. Please tell me how to test, I assume ohms on the male and female connectors?
Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 AT 12:51 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
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Here is the video and picture:
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 AT 5:09 AM
Tiny
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Here is the sound of my mom's car after I started it:
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 AT 8:38 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video and picture. It sounds like the radiator is not full or the thermostat can be bad or installed backwards. Here is a guide to help you install the thermoset correctly with instructions on how to fill the cooling system. The codes can be caused by lack of coolant reaching the sensor. Check out the images below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

I have included instructions for the thermostat installation as well. Also, the bleed hole must be at the top of the thermostat when installing. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 AT 8:40 AM
Tiny
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I'll find out when I remove the thermostat tomorrow to see if it's in backwards. I have two questions though.
1.) If the thermostat is in the correct direction and I've filled the radiator with coolant full but am unable to bleed the system to get more air bubbles out while the car is in on, how can fill the coolant system with the car on if it's making that noise?
2.) Why do you not think it's the etc 2 sensor? Every YouTube video that I've seen shows that sensor by the radiator. Does the sensor not look corroded/okay even though it has coolant on it?
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 AT 10:06 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the videos, it sounds like the serpentine belt might have coolant on it, I would try water to clean the belt, to confirm the belt is making the noise you can remove it and start the engine to see if the noise is gone. The thermostat was an air bleed that must be at the top of the thermostat to allow the air to bleed from the system check out the images I sent you earlier. The P2185 is for “Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit High" So this can be a bad connection code from when you removed the sensor connector, I would clear the codes after checking the thermostat and refill with coolant. Also when you fill the system and its full wait about 5 minutes and check it again without starting the engine this will allow enough time for the air to bleed out, do this until the level does not drop before you start the engine. Let me know.
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Wednesday, November 9th, 2022 AT 11:14 AM
Tiny
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I fixed the check engine light. There was a connector I couldn't see that wasn't plugged in. However, it's still leaking under the thermostat and makes that sound while starting. I'm going to take out the thermostat and inspect anything that looks unusual. I hope I find it because I have a mobile mechanic side business, I've recently started so I need to trouble shoot effectively. I did my radiator a the next day after my mom's car with no problems on my end. The upper hose was loose, but it was just due to contraction because of the cold and then doing my radiator with the pressure going through but yeah, no problems I did. Do you have any suggestions for a leaking thermostat? It's a Honda thermostat so I doubt it's defective.
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Friday, November 11th, 2022 AT 9:28 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, just see if it is backwards and check the seal which will cause the leak. Please let us know what happens.
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Saturday, November 12th, 2022 AT 9:18 AM
Tiny
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Yes, it looks like the thermostat gasket was pinched. Used old thermostat, no leak. No engine check light. Hondas are known for power steering pump leaks. This car had one. Put power steering fluid in and the sound went away. Everything is fixed but the reason why I started all of this was low voltage Replaced the alternator 2x, new battery and +, - cables but still low voltage. We are giving up and my mom wants to take it to a shop on Monday. I really appreciate your help, but do you have any last-minute suggestions?

Also, I can't for the life of me do drum brakes. Do you have any tips or advice? I have external snap ring pliers, the pliers to remove and put the spring on, and have watched several videos buts it's such a headache and requires extreme patience with all of those springs, pins and clips.

Thanks again so much for the free tech support.
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Saturday, November 12th, 2022 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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I am glad you got the problem fixed, please start a new question for the additional problem and we will be glad to help.

Please post your new question here, you must be logged in.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, November 14th, 2022 AT 9:52 AM

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