The Lemon IndexThe coolant temperature sensor reads too low a voltage (looks extremely hot to the computer).
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Failed coolant temp sensor. Then: shorted wiring.
Owners named P0117 in 5 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Chevrolet.
The details
What P0117 means
The coolant temperature sensor reads too low a voltage (looks extremely hot to the computer).
Can I drive with P0117?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
80% of the owner complaints that name P0117 also say the car overheats. A complaint can describe more than one problem, so this doesn't prove the code caused it.
Common causes of P0117
- Failed coolant temp sensor
- Shorted wiring
A shop should confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
What owners describe
- Overheats: 80% of complaints
Share of complaints naming the code whose text also mentions each problem.
Related codes
P0113 P0120 P0121 P0122 P0123 P0108 P0126 P0107
Quick answers
What does P0117 mean?
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Low. The coolant temperature sensor reads too low a voltage (looks extremely hot to the computer).
Can I drive with P0117?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
What causes P0117?
Failed coolant temp sensor; Shorted wiring.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text names P0117. A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis. Meanings: the standard SAE J2012 definitions in our own words; manufacturer codes only where verified for that make. General information, not repair advice for your car.