Warning message, Engine Hot A/C Off?

Tiny
DIANA G TAYLOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 107,000 MILES
The temperature gauge stays completely down on cold, does not move no matter how long I drive it and has the same warning when I start it the next morning. Neither A/C nor the heater will work when it does this. Fluids are fine, no leaks, runs fine. Had a Thermostat put on less than a year ago and the warning stopped, A/C/Heater worked. But doing the same thing again.
Tuesday, July 25th, 2023 AT 1:10 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,671 POSTS
Hello, it sounds like there is an intermittent issue with either the coolant temp sensor, its wiring, or the PCM. Because the PCM is taking the action of disabling the AC, it is probably actually seeing an issue, instead of the Instrument Cluster having a gauge problem. There is some service info that states the Temperature gauge will default to 0 or full cold for 3 different reasons, which Ill post that info for you. But monitoring some live engine data would indicate where the problem might be.
When thermistors fault such as the coolant temp sensor, intake air temp sensor, or any other 2 wire temperature sensor, their live data will usually always go to -40 degrees, that means there is an open in the circuit. Is the Check Engine coming on as well during this fault? Below is the service info on the gauge staying a full cold. I would think there would be a diagnostic trouble code set in the PCM if there was an engine coolant temperature sensor fault occurring. If not, it might be an issue with the PCM itself, The Body Control module might even set a code if it loses communication with the PCM. It looks like the coolant temp data is sent to the BCM first from the PCM, and the BCM sends the data to the Instrument Cluster. But one of these modules should be setting a code. The coolant temperature sensor is one of the most important inputs to the PCM, especially on a cold engine.
But scan tool engine data with definitely have a data PID for the engine coolant temp sensor (ECT), in the morning it should read just about ambient temperature and be equal to the intake air temperature sensor reading until the vehicle it started and engine temperature starts to rise.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-coolant-temperature-sensor-works
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Wednesday, July 26th, 2023 AT 11:15 AM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,671 POSTS
Hello, if you responded yesterday can you repost your response. Do not use any keyboard symbols in your response as these might be filtered out as spam. I don't see any post from you, but did receive an email notification.
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Thursday, July 27th, 2023 AT 2:11 PM
Tiny
DIANA G TAYLOR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The AC has now been working fine since the day after your last response. The CK engine light has not been on either. What is a PCM, BCM, and PID? Thanks
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Friday, July 28th, 2023 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
AL514
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,671 POSTS
The PCM is the engine computer (Powertrain Control Module), the BCM is the body control module, and a data PID is just a listing of different live data parameters. So, for example, the engine coolant temperature sensor would be listed as ECT and then a voltage and a temperature. But if the Check Engine light was on before, there should be a code still stored in the engine computer, it would just be listed as "Historic" or "History" if the fault is not occurring right now. So, if you swing by AutoZone or another auto parts store they should scan the engine computer for you for free. They want to sell parts so they offer this for free. You could just see if there are any codes stored, write them down, and have them clear the codes and we'll see if any come back. This really hot weather lately has been causing some strange issues this last week. If it's an intermittent wiring issue it will come back eventually.
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Saturday, July 29th, 2023 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
DIANA G TAYLOR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you! I will get the codes as soon as I get a chance. Right now, everything is working fine.
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Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 AT 9:31 AM

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