Glad that fixed it however a multitude of things can couse this . Radiator or engine sensor, thermostat, low coolant, bad connections on wiring, air in system, broken electric fan. Glad it worked and hopefully it will help.
Thanks for the helpful video. My sensor was in two pieces. I gotta say at 1:25 you put that clip on a lot easier than I did. Liked and subscribed. Thanks again!
Thanks. Had same problem. New sensor fixed it. Old sensor crumbled apart when removed. You have to clear the fault by turning off engine and restarting. Had to reseat sensor because it leaked at first. Thanks for the help.
Great video ! I have a 2015 Malibu LT and so far (258k+ miles) I have not come across this issue but I’m glad I came across your video I have done two coolant flushes in my cars lifetime I’m wondering if that help with the longevity of that sensor. Either way I love the car it’s been great and very economical the ac is super cold compared to my other vehicle I do suggest to service the ac yearly to help with the longevity of that as it is an expensive repair if done at a dealership ($1500-2000)
Generally most people don’t change their coolant as often as it’s recommended. As it wears out and breaks down and potentially overheats higher than its intended, I’m sure that plays a role in sensor function. I’d wager a bet that it’s helped keep yours from going bad. Also could just be a handful of these sensors that came slightly defective from the factory. Who knows with these sorts of things lol.
Thanks was having this same error, Checked the thermostat sensor and it was cooked!!!! $10 part but ended up having to go to pull a part for a new cable to rewire ... still pretty simple fix!!
Was your car running hot or this code just kept popping up ? Cause wen I drive mines the temperature gauge shoots up then that messages pops up … the shop replaced the head gasket and the thermostat
No the engine wasn’t overheating at all. I’ve seen temp sensors make the gauge go to max before even though it’s not overheating. I’d change the sensor even if just to eliminate the possibility. It’s a cheap part.
I was charged so much ($519.00) by d dealer for getting this fixed. Was called replacementthermostatand coolant temperature sensor and thermostat assembly. Plus, Right front HUB/BRG with ABS sensor which ABS didn't even showed warning on my car. I just saw it on the invoice and costed me $ 531. Plus diagnostics, ECM updates . Total of $1600. That was in Sept 9, 2021. 10 days ago my ABS and stabilitrak lights are on. I didn't have this problem before but they changed a part. Now it is on. I'm so disappointed and so sick of this. I drive only on weekends. I'm afraid to go back to d dealer I might be billed again so much. I drive only on weekends. 12km a year since I got this car 3 ½ yrs ago. It's heart breaking.
That’s an oof. Sometimes the magnetic ring that’s on the wheel bearing can rust and break apart and cause the abs system to fail. Just a tiny little magnet that is unserviceable. You have to replace the entire wheel bearing hub assembly. I had to replace the front right one on this Malibu as well.
Hey! Not sure if you'll see this before I either go to a mechanic to finish the job or find a proper tool at the hardware store, but would you have any recommendations of a good tool to use to pry out the rest of the piece if it falls apart while you're removing it? When I went to yank mine out all that came out was the black base of it and two copper wires. The gold covering is still inside the plastic housing. I've been working at it with some pliers but they aren't quite long/thin enough to really get in there and give it a good yank.
I also wanted to thank you for how simple to follow this video is, I've been using RU-vid for help on minor repairs on my car and this is definitely one of the better videos I've consulted. It was going without a hitch until the damn thing fell apart.
@@dizzy.melodies without being able to see it, my first thought is to melt the end of a glue stick try and stick it to it? I’m guessing the rubber oring and stuff is still stuck in there?
@@dizzy.melodies if there’s still plastic in there you can use a small drill bit to make a hole and try and thread a coarse screw like a drywall screw into it and use that to grab onto.
@@dizzy.melodies auto parts stores sell a variety of long handled needle nose pliers with various bends and angles. I have a pair that’s about 10 inches long overall with a 45 degree bend at the end and they seem to have gotten me through most tough situations where reaching something in an awkward spot is required. Good luck!
@TheForerunner117 thank you!!! I ended up picking up a pair of 6 inch needle nose pliers, after a decent amount of elbow grease I was able to pry it off. Got the new part in but was having difficulty with the clip- the new sensor shouldn't be able to move around, correct? Fired her up to see if the warning code was still there, it was but I'm unsure if it just hasn't cleared from my system yet or if the part isn't on correctly.
I just replaced the thermostat and that didnt fix it. Im hoping this will work. It looks easy to do and i wont have to pay someone to do it. Ill check back soon if it works.
This error is on my car right now, but it’s snowy and cold again and we don’t have a garage to do the repair in. So off to the mechanic I go this Friday.
I’m not sure the AC Would work or blow cold while this message is displayed. But yeah probably. The cooling fans will just run at full blast because the car can’t tell what temperature the engine is, so this makes it run in high speed mode as an emergency safety precaution.
i did this and even replaced the other ect connected to the radiator, its now 2 days later and i got the message again and my fans run after turning the car off, i put brand new coolant in after installing the replacement sensors, so levels r good but something is blowing my sensor, i got oems so they shouldn't of been faulty. however i might think its a thermostat issue, maybe its stuk or bad therefore messing the sensor up, idk. any advice?
My car does not show the engine light anymore but it still shows that message in the middle and the temp still stuck on C? It wont even go up a little bit. Any ideas?
Sometimes it's just a fluke. Use a scantool to erase and see if it comes back on before going through this process. Codes or no codes, a scantool will erase this.
Hello I have a 2011 equinox I replaced my sensor twice it keep getting stuck the middle won’t move from c ! It got to be a default or bad wire some were and the cold 🥶 wealth in Fl May be it’s 40 now
Hi I’m planning on changing mine but the fan still runs for few minutes when engine is turned off. Please will this replacement also stop the fan from running?
If you live somewhere hot, I think that’s normal. Unless your sensor is bad it could be just running the fan be default to try and protect the engine because it can’t tell what temp it is
So it was the ECT sensor. the one in there was crumbling when i took it out. The part that goes in the connector broke off inside the connector. It felt like it was fused or melted to the connector. The connector broke trying to yank the stuck part of the sensor out. I had to pull out the sensor a little piece at a time. So now i gotta go find one of those. Ugh..thinking the fix would be is as easy as 5 minutes.
@@TheForerunner117 Ya it wont be hard to splice. Thank god its easy to access. I went to autozone and they didnt have any in stock anywhere in my area and i cant find shit online. I dont know specifically what the part is called so maybe thats why im struggling to find one. when i look up "ECT sensor connector" or "pigtails" i get hits for a bunch of other types of connecters. Worst case scenerio ill go pull one out of a junk Malibu at Parts Galore this weekend.
I just had a shop do mines but the outlet had to be replaced because I was going to do it myself until I discovered the sensor was broken and burnt… my car was already running hot and still is after the shop did work my car heats up to 227 degrees even with replacing water pump housing with thermostat… any suggestions anything would help thanks so much 🥹
227 F is actually pretty close to normal operating temp. Where you live might affect that a little. You could check and make sure your fans are turning on properly when it warms up. Check to see if the radiator is covered in bugs and leaves and whatever else. Also, check and see if someone painted it. Paint on a rad is a bad idea. Could lead to slightly high temps. I hear all the time people saying that thermostats out of the box can be junk but I’ve never had it happen to me. There might be the option to change the thermostat to a different location one that opens up at lower temperatures. Try letting your car warm up and turn the heater on full blast, hot. And see if the temp goes down some. You could have a plugged heater core or an air bubble in your coolant system from when that shop did that work. You can typically bleed the coolant system by running with the rad cap off but I’m not sure if that model has one or not. Might be another way. Some cars have bleeder valves. Sometimes the air will work it’s way out on its own.
Can you tell me if this is an issue with my mom's equinox? IT will blow cold when it wants to and then stop. Might be fine for days, then it stops blowing cold after 5 minutes and goes ambient? Not sure if this is tied to the overheating issue that acts the same, fine for days or weeks. fluid is fine. Another day it overheats an fluid is low I'm trying to get it nice for her dor this mother's day Thanks
My Vauxhall Astra 2012 also had the same issue. Temperature gauge also not working. Replaced the Thermostat and it fixed the issue only for 2 weeks, Now the error comes again and temperature gauge not working again. Frustrating!
@@musicloversss6326 I’d go to the parts store you bought it from first and see if there’s a warranty on the part. Likely could get a second one for free and see if the same thing happens
That’s weird. I’d start to wonder if maybe there’s a bad wiring or connector for it, shorting out somehwere? You could check the voltage on the connector and see if it’s steady or changes when you manipulate the wiring
So i changed mine but now its leaking coolant out of the hole where the sensor sits in. Its like the sensor isn't seated properly but I've checked it 10 times. Any suggestions?
Dunno bud. Haven’t taken anything to a mechanic in over 15 years. A quick Google search says average shop rate is 100$ per hour so you’d think it would be at least 100$ plus the part. 200$ plus if they’re slow I guess lol.
If your temp gauge is rising, it might actually be overheating. 253 F is the temp that the computer will shut off the AC compressor. you should look into diagnosing your thermostat. you can sometimes see if its stuck by toucing (carefully) the big rubber hoses going in and out and seeing if they are both the same temp. if not, its probably stuck closed.
also if you turn the heat on full blast, and see the temp go down, that would also confirm that the coolant is reading correctly and just overheating. unfortunately if its not the thermostat, it could be something as bad as a leaking head gasket. but it could also be a bunch of other things too. its also really easy to test if exhaust gases are getting into your coolant with a test kit. good luck
It could be, or the wiring. Try playing with the connector and the wires while someone watches the gauge. Also unplug it and see if there’s oil in the connector. How the sensor usually fails is they start leaking oil through themselves into the electrical connection
Hi I have a 2010 gmc terrain and I was driving and then my heat went off and my suv started overheating I switched my thermostat checked my radiator and did I diastolic test and it said my suv was good but my suv still overheats and there is no heat ...is there anything you can recommend?
Check and make sure your radiator fan is spinning when it gets hot. the fan switch could be bad. could potentially be a blockage somewhere stopping coolant from recirculating. perhaps the heater core. or a leak/low coolant
@@TheForerunner117 there is no heat what so ever my uncle tried everything he could think of ...it doesnt overheat when parked and running only when I drive
I do believe they are the same part. If you to advance or O’riley or whatever they should be able to help you make sure either way if they aren’t brain dead
Code 4 reappearing in Malibu 2013 causing the AC off and temp gauge stops working, fan keeps running after switching off engine as well. Changed ECT sensor and reservoir cap but it came back again after a week or so
My 2013 chevy Malibu has this exact message "AC off due to high engine temp." The temperature gauge stays on cold even after driving it for a while, and a fan stays on for several minutes after the car is off. I went to AutoZone and it didn't give an exact reason for the check engine light. I figured it was possibly a temp sensor which is what the associate at auto zone originally stated and then said oh you have mass air flow sensor and wrote that part down for me so I could pick it up tomorrow. I changed the mass air flow thing and my car still has that alert and the fan still runs. Are these the same issues you had and replaced only the temp sensor? I am trying to be more self sufficient so any insight would be great.
I can’t really see how the mass airflow sensor would cause this issue. If your temp gauge isn’t reading anything then I’d bet that your sensor is junk. The think is there is two of them. One in the engine and one in the radiator, I got lucky snd changed the one that needed to be changed first. (Happened to be the one in the engine)
@kailarivera I have the exact same problem the thermostat stays on cold , car runs good just the noise of the fan , but I am also curious to know if you fixed your problem?
I changed that one out .. Worked for a bit n then started doing the same thing works sometimes n this texas heat omg ... Whats the other sensor? Do u think I need to change that one out?
@@sylviaortega2239 I think it’s the same part. There’s one on the intake and one on the radiator. Could also be your thermostat. Could also pry use a coolant flush
