P0119

Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent

Severity: Medium
Driving: Drivable — book it in

The coolant temperature signal is intermittent - dropping out and returning. This is characteristic of a connection problem rather than a failed sensor, and it can make the engine's fuelling lurch as the module reacts to a temperature that appears to jump.

Possible causes

CommonLoose or corroded connector
CommonChafed wiring shorting intermittently
PossibleFailing sensor breaking down when hot

What you might notice

Check engine light that comes and goes
Occasional rough running or fuelling lurch
Cooling fans cycling unexpectedly
Temperature gauge jumping

What to check, in order

Inspect and reseat the connector, checking for corrosion and spread terminals.
Watch the live temperature reading while gently flexing the harness with the engine running.
Trace the wiring for chafing against the engine or brackets.
Fix the connection and re-test before replacing the sensor.

Read this code from your own car

Plug an ELM327 adapter into the OBD-II port under the dashboard. Pin16 reads every stored, pending and permanent code, explains each one like this page does — offline, with no account — and shows what the car recorded when the fault was set.

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Where this code sits

B · Body C · Chassis P · Powertrain U · Network and communication