Can you drive with a P2181 code?
If your temperature gauge is reading high, this is a serious problem, and it indicates that the car is overheating. Pull over to the side of the road and allow the engine to cool before driving home or to a service station. You will need to fix the problem before continuing to drive the vehicle.
What is the engine coolant temperature sensor?
The Coolant Temperature Sensor is used to measure the temperature of the engine coolant. The readings from this sensor are then fed back to the engine control unit (ECU). This data from the sensor is then used to adjust the fuel injection and ignition timing.
What does diagnostic code P2181 mean?
The Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2181 Cooling System Performance is triggered by the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) when it detects that the temperature of the coolant in the radiator is not within the acceptable range. It is either too hot or cold.
What does P2181 code mean?
Cooling System Performance
Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2181 stands for “Cooling System Performance.” It is triggered when the powertrain control module (PCM) detects that the coolant temperature in the radiator and engine is outside of the normal range (too hot or too cold).
What are signs of a bad temperature sensor?
Following are the significant symptoms of a bad coolant temp sensor:
- Check Engine Light.
- Engine Overheating.
- Poor Fuel Economy.
- Poor Engine Performance.
- Broken Water Pump.
- Control of Cooling Fan.
- Black Smoke From Exhaust Pipe.
What happens if temp sensor goes bad?
The coolant temperature sensor can fail and transmit cold signals to the computer. This action confuses the computer and stimulates it to enrich the fuel mixture unnecessarily. This can cause the fuel mixture to be vibrant such that during combustion, the fuel can’t be adequately consumed within the chamber.