![]() But what’s causing the P0128 trouble code? The most common cause for this is a thermostat that’s stuck open.Īs mentioned, the main valve is supposed to be closed when the coolant is still cold. So, that’s how your car’s cooling system works. Afterward, the cool coolant recirculates back into the engine to keep it at optimum operating temperature. Then once it warms up, the thermostat’s main valve will open so that the coolant can travel to the radiator to disperse heat. In a nutshell, the coolant circulates only around the engine when it’s cold. Once the engine cools down, the coolant in the reservoir tank will circulate back into the radiator. Hence why a reservoir tank is necessary, as coolant may flow out of the system. Note that this system pressurizes as the temperature increases. ![]() This process cools down the coolant, which will then recirculate back into the engine to carry away the heat from the engine, keeping it at optimal operating temperature. The radiator disperses the heat from the coolant, usually with the help of a fan. This allows coolant to circulate to the radiator. Once the coolant gets to a higher temperature-usually around 160º F-the thermostat will close the bypass valve and open the main valve. This is so that coolant gets to operating temperature faster on a cold start. This forces the coolant from the engine to flow through a bypass valve, which recirculates the coolant immediately back into the engine. During this stage, the thermostat will close its main valve. When you first start the car, the coolant pump will pump coolant through the engine. Here are the components that make up the cooling system: If you already know, then you can skip this part. How Your Car’s Cooling System Worksīefore we get into more detail, learning how your car’s cooling system works will give you a clearer idea of how this trouble code occurs. If it’s anything other than ‘0’ then it’s a manufacturer-specific code and may mean different things across manufacturers. If it’s a ‘0’ such as in this case, then it’s a generic code. The way to tell whether it’s a generic/universal or a manufacturer-specific code is by taking a look at the second digit (the first number after the letter). And pretty much everything we discuss here applies to other car makes as well. If you happen to come across this code in a different car make in the future, now you know that it means the same thing. Whether you have a Chevy, Ford, Toyota, or any other car make, this code means the same thing as long as the car has an OBD-2 system, which is virtually every car since 1996. ![]() So, this code means the same regardless of make and model. We should mention that this is a generic OBD-2 trouble code. If the car fails to reach this temperature or takes too long, it will register this trouble code and trigger the check engine light. In the case of Chevy cars, it usually has to reach at least 160º F in 15 minutes. One of which is so that the Engine Control Unit (ECU) knows how much fuel and air to inject into the engine depending on the engine’s temperature.Īnyway, this code means that the coolant is taking too long to reach operating temperature, usually between 195º F and 220º F. The temperature sensors serve many purposes. Your Chevy’s cooling system has sensors that measure the engine coolant’s temperature. The P0128 trouble code in Chevy translates to “Coolant Thermostat Temperature Below Regulating Temperature.” Great, but what does this OBD gibberish mean?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |