Number P0117: Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Low
The engine coolant temperature sensor 1 is an NTC thermistor: the control module feeds 5 V through a resistor, and as the coolant warms the resistance and signal voltage fall. Its value drives cold-start enrichment, idle speed, ignition timing, the radiator fan and the release of closed-loop mixture
Can you drive with P0117?
Severity: Fix promptly — drivability fault. Short trips at moderate speed only. If the car has entered limp mode (won't rev, stuck in one gear), have it towed rather than forcing it.
If you ignore it: Limp-mode faults tend to strand you, and several of them (misfires, throttle faults) damage other parts while you wait.
This is the #41 most common code in our top-150 library, in the cooling system family (Powertrain system). Severity is Number Nest's editorial triage — if the light is flashing or the car feels unsafe, stop driving it whatever any page says.
What P0117 means
The engine coolant temperature sensor 1 is an NTC thermistor: the control module feeds 5 V through a resistor, and as the coolant warms the resistance and signal voltage fall. Its value drives cold-start enrichment, idle speed, ignition timing, the radiator fan and the release of closed-loop mixture control. Some Ford engines measure cylinder head temperature instead and calculate a coolant value from it. P0117 means the signal voltage is too low, so the sensor would report an implausibly hot engine (around 140–160 °C). Usual causes are a signal wire shorted to ground, coolant or moisture in the connector, or an internally shorted sensor. Limits: GM below 55 ohms, Ford petrol below 0.244 V for 5 s, Ford diesel below 0.10 V, Mitsubishi below 0.1 V for 2 s. Mitsubishi then calculates with 80 °C; GM/Saab switch the radiator fan on and the A/C compressor off. GM needs two trips. On Ford engines with a head temperature sensor the equivalent is P1290.
Systems involved: engine coolant temperature sensor, engine coolant temperature sensor wiring.
Causes, ranked by likelihood
| # | Cause | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Signal wire shorted to ground (chafing, pinched harness) | most likely |
| 2 | Sensor shorted internally or coolant inside the sensor | most likely |
| 3 | Moisture or coolant in the connector | possible |
| 4 | Engine control module faulty | less common |
Check them in order — the list is ranked so the likely, cheaper causes come before the expensive part.
Symptoms you may notice
- Check engine light on
- Radiator fan runs constantly
- Hard cold start (no enrichment, engine reported hot)
- Temperature gauge at hot end
- A/C may be switched off
Misdiagnosis traps
- Replacing the part named by the code title without testing. The code reports a failed self-test; the cause list above is ranked so the likely, cheap causes are checked before the expensive part is condemned.
- Clearing the code and declaring victory when the light stays off for a day — the monitor that sets this code runs only under specific driving conditions.
(General diagnostic guidance for this code family — no code-specific trap is published for this code.)
How a good shop confirms it
- Confirm the code and record any companion codes — companions narrow the system fast.
- Inspect the affected components and their wiring/connectors for damage, corrosion and looseness.
- Test the top-ranked cause with live data or a multimeter before replacing anything.
(Standard diagnostic path for this family, labeled as general guidance.)
Repair options & costs
| Repair | Shop total (parts + labor) | DIY (parts only) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermostat + housing + coolant | $185 – $475 | $60 – $200 (parts only) | 2/5 |
| Coolant temperature sensor | $58 – $170 | $20 – $70 (parts only) | 1/5 |
National ranges from Number Nest's cost model (midsize car, independent shop, US-average labor). Published cross-check — Thermostat + housing + coolant: CarMD 2026 national average $324.
OBDex repair data for this code rates the job difficulty easy with a typical labor time in the 0.3–1.5 hour range and DIY possible: yes.
Price this repair in your state
Estimated total: — (midsize car, independent shop)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix P0117?
The fix most associated with this code — thermostat + housing + coolant — runs $185 – $475 at an independent shop for a midsize car in our cost model (parts + labor, US average). The code names a system, not a part, so confirm the cause before spending: the ranked causes above are ordered by likelihood.
Can I drive with P0117?
See the can-you-drive verdict above — it is based on the system involved and the cascading-damage risk, and it is our editorial triage, not a manufacturer instruction. If the light is flashing or the car feels unsafe, stop driving it regardless of any code.
Will P0117 clear itself?
If the fault was a one-off (a loose cap, a cold-start glitch), the light can go out after several clean trips and the code ages into history. A fault that is still present re-sets the code as soon as the car runs that self-test again — monitors run under specific conditions, which is why "it hasn't come back in two days" is not proof of a fix.
Will my car fail inspection with P0117?
In states with OBD-based emissions inspection, yes — an illuminated check-engine light or an incomplete readiness monitor fails the test regardless of what the tailpipe would show. C-codes (ABS) fall under safety inspection instead in states that have one.
What should I check first for P0117?
The first item on the ranked-causes list above — it is ranked likelihood-first for exactly this reason — plus the free checks: recent work in the area (connectors left loose are a classic), fluid levels, and the battery and grounds on electrical codes.
Where this data comes from
Code facts, causes and symptoms come from OBDex — an open dataset of independently authored descriptions of the standardized generic OBD-II codes (CC0 1.0, public domain; github.com/foerbsnavi/OBDex). The SAE J2012 document itself is copyrighted and is not reproduced here. Cost ranges are Number Nest's own US planning model: national parts and labor ranges cross-checked against the CarMD Vehicle Health Index 2026 published averages, with labor adjustable by the BLS OEWS May 2025 state wage index for auto technicians (occupation 49-3023) — a wage index, not a surveyed shop rate. Severity and can-you-drive notes are our editorial triage, not a manufacturer instruction.