A vehicle's engine requires constant monitoring of its parameters for peak performance. One vital component for functioning is the detection of heat emitted from the engine, called the temperature gauge sending unit, or engine coolant temperature sensor.
An engine coolant temperature sensor, or ECT sensor, resides in the intake manifold near the thermostat housing. It communicates with the onboard computer about how hot or cold the engine is so the engine can adjust as conditions change.
The ECT is typically a thermistor component that varies its voltage levels with the change of engine temperature. As the engine starts, it is at its coolest, illustrating a voltage drop of just under 5 volts. As the temperature rises to operating levels, the voltage dives to almost 0 volts.
This temperature gauge sending unit allows the vehicle to run well without excessive heat damage. If the sensor fails, components can overheat because the onboard computer will be unable to make proper adjustments.
