Engine coolant temp sensor and air conditioning problems!

YelloEye

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Posts
7,601
Reaction score
23
Location
Renton, WA
AC is unrelated to your thermostat. Coolant temp sensor sounds like it's unplugged.
 

futchstien

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2014
Posts
5
Reaction score
0
Sounds like you got a bad thermostat replacement man. Recommend you R&R again and see if the problem presents itself again
 

andrewlobel

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2016
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
USA, fl
I have a 2007 cobalt 2.2 liter and I was wondering what this issue might be. The check engine light goes on, and my coolant temperature doesn't register. Along with the air conditioner not blowing out any cold air. This is very frustrating and I was wondering if anyone can give me some insight.

Thanks, Gary

There can be several reasons behind AC not cooling problem like the air filter might be clogged.Either clean the air filter or replace it as needed.The condenser coils may be dirty and loaded with debris. If the coils are dirty enough, the unit will never be cold enough and will not be able to cool the room. A compressor is the heart of an Air Conditioning Unit which is responsible for cooling your room. If the air conditioner does not cool, the compressor might be defective.A thermostat is a sensor that senses the room temperature and hints the compressor to start or stop the cooling cycle. If the thermostat is defective the air conditioner does not cool or may cool continuously.
 

OLDDOG

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2019
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
MIAMI
I have the exact same problem, combined with a shaking engine running in low, I change the sensor 2 times, the coolant , nothing work, I made a lot of research with my mechanic friend, he has no idea on the temp sensor, the shacking he thinks is water in the gas. I unplug the battery, every time, principally in a cold day and work a little and come again. Finally i saw in YouTube "2009 Chevy cobalt Camshaft Position sensor error code and replacement". IT WORKS. YEAHHHHHHH
 

Nick Winkler

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2019
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
San Antonio
I'm having a similar issue with my temp coolant tuning on and off. When I take off in the mornings my coolant temp will turn off after about ten minutes. In the afternoon on my way home the sensor will still be off, but will turn back on after about ten minutes. If it runs off any other time I will have to wait until the car cools until it will reset after the ten minutes. The sensor was changed. It sounds like an electrical problem, has anybody seen this before? It did this before about a year ago then stopped and now it is doing it again. I've also been thinking that may have to do with the humidity,
My engine coolant temperature sensor will read if I disconnect the battery and then reconnect it. It will read for awhile, then cut out again. The only way to get it to read again is to disconnect and reconnect the battery. Does anyone know what is going on with this?
 

occupant

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
17
Reaction score
0
Location
Westerville, OH
I'm going through this right now with my '08 at 229K miles.

If you can still get a reading on the dash after disconnecting the battery, your ECT sensor is *FINE*, for now. No need to change a sensor if that's not the problem.

The problem does not have ANYTHING to do with the air conditioner itself. It just gets disabled by the BCM/ECM to reduce engine load because the ECT told it too cold of a temperature for too long, and the computers are programmed to ASSUME in that case that the thermostat is stuck open and the ECT reading is no longer accurate (even if it is). Hook up a scantool and you can see the ECT reading there even if the dash says (--- F). You should also see a P0128 code but only if enough drive cycles have repeated the problem.

Your thermostat is likely stuck open because the gasket cracked and popped out of place, preventing the thermostat from closing all the way. In hot enough weather, my car is happy, blowing ice cold AC (just charged it last week) and showing temps mostly in the 185-195 range. But on a COLD morning like in the 50s, the stuck open thermostat won't allow the car to get up to operating temperature within 15 minutes (staying under 180) and the symptoms start:

temp display goes to (--- F)
AC compressor no longer engages
cooling fan under hood comes on high speed and stays there

Interestingly enough, no check engine light yet. Disconnecting the battery will reset the system to let you drive with cold AC again. But after 15 minutes if it can't get the temp above 180, you'll be right back where you started. Each time you do this, you'll have to reset your radio's clock and you lose dashboard calculated MPG/MPH averages.

AC Delco 131-158 is the CORRECT part number to use for the L61 2.2L engines. There is another AC Delco part that will fit but will not operate correctly especially in mild weather and it may allow for a stuck closed thermostat when it fails and that invites a blown head gasket, cracked head or block, and other engine damage. It's $30 + shipping on RockAuto, $32 and Prime on Amazon and $48-50 at most local parts stores. If you want to gamble your engine to save $20 on a part, I'm not stopping you, but I am looking at you through a narrowed gaze and judging the hell out of you.

Thermostat ordered. Kitty litter pan ready to catch coolant. Dexcool 50/50 purchased. I'll tackle it Friday. Might try and remember to take pictures and post them. Might try and remember to detail under the hood so it doesn't look so nasty. But hey the car is 11 years old so...

I'm just regurgitating everything I've read here, on YouTube, on other forums found through searched, Reddit, and my own experience. Simple problem. Messy to fix, but easy, and much easier the SECOND time once you've done it, as with most all things, ever.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
7,430
Posts
156,457
Members
4,332
Latest member
Kpcasperson
Top