Cooling

P00E2 — Charge Air Cooler Coolant Temperature Sensor Intermittent/Erratic

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P00E2 means

The engine control module monitors the charge air cooler coolant temperature sensor 'A', which normally gives a signal that changes smoothly with temperature. P00E2 sets when that signal drops out, jumps around or doesn't make sense, pointing to a sensor, wiring or connector problem. Some references describe this code as an engine coolant temperature circuit issue, so confirm the exact definition for your vehicle.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Erratic or jumping temperature gauge
  • Hesitation or reduced power
  • Worse fuel economy
  • Cooling fan or pump behaving oddly

Possible causes

  1. Failed coolant temperature sensor
  2. Damaged or chafed wiring with an intermittent connection
  3. Corroded or loose connector pins
  4. Low coolant or air trapped in the charge air cooler loop
  5. Rarely, a faulty ECM

How to diagnose

  1. Read all codes and freeze-frame data and look for other cooling or temperature codes
  2. Check coolant level and condition in the charge air cooler loop and make sure it is bled of air
  3. Inspect the sensor connector and harness for corrosion, moisture, chafing or a loose fit
  4. Watch live temperature data on a scan tool while wiggling the harness; spikes point to a bad connection
  5. Compare the sensor reading with actual temperature using an infrared thermometer, cold and warm
  6. Measure sensor resistance and compare it to the manufacturer's spec
  7. Check reference voltage and ground at the sensor connector
  8. If everything checks out, test the ECM and look for software updates

Common fixes

  • Replace the temperature sensor
  • Repair or replace damaged wiring or the connector and clean the terminals
  • Top off coolant and bleed the charge air cooler loop
  • Update software or replace the ECM if confirmed faulty

Questions and answers

What does P00E2 mean?

The ECM is getting an unstable signal from a temperature sensor in the charge air cooler coolant circuit (some sources say engine coolant). The sensor, wiring or connector is usually to blame.

Can I drive with P00E2?

Short trips are usually fine if temperatures look normal. The engine may lose power, and if it actually overheats you must stop right away, so don't put off diagnosis.

This is general information about the code. The meaning can differ between makes and models: a scan tool and the repair manual for your car will show the exact cause.