Coolant temperature sensor?

Tiny
JEREMIAH SMITH
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 FORD FUSION
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 72,000 MILES
The coolant temperature gauge had been climbing to three quarter and then going back to middle. Sometimes it gets a little bit hotter. I have replaced the thermostat already and it was fine for a week and it is doing it again. I have got a replacement coolant temperature sensor for it but I cannot find the location of the sensor to replace it. Do you know where I can find the location of the coolant temperature sensor?
Sunday, July 30th, 2017 AT 7:45 PM

35 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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The sensor is telling you the engine temperature is too high. First you have to determine what affects the overheating. If speed is a contributing factor, and the overheating only occurs at low speeds, suspect the radiator fan is not turning on. That is not needed at higher speeds where natural air flow is sufficient.

Your car is too new for this, but if running the heater on "hot" and the fan on a higher speed brings the engine temperature down, corroded cooling fins on the radiator are a good suspect. A large butterfly collection in the radiator will do that too.

Another real good suspect is a leaking cylinder head gasket. The gases that get into the cooling system can pool under the thermostat and cause it to not open. Thermostats have to be hit with hot liquid. Hot air will not do it. A leaking head gasket is usually accompanied by the loss of coolant from the reservoir. There is a chemical test to check for this.

Here is the location of the engine temperature sensor and all the other sensors with a guide to help see whats going on if the sensor does not fix it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens. (ECT is the sensor you are looking for.)

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Sunday, July 30th, 2017 AT 10:18 PM
Tiny
JOHN ANDERSON2
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  • 2013 FORD FUSION
  • 2.5L
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Need to check and or replace sensor to clear false overheating.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
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There are two different places it can be depending on the engine which I have supplied both. Check out the images (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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-1
Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHN ANDERSON2
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The engine is the 2.5l direct fuel injected with turbo.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
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The 2.5 is not a turbo, so here is a picture of the 2.0 turbo cht location. The 1.6L and 2.0L are turbo models.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHN ANDERSON2
  • MEMBER
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My apologies, I am getting to old for this. The mechanic I had said it was a 2.5 it is the 1.6.I have been working on this for 5 days now waiting from my local contacts to help with no luck. Sorry about the quality but here are some photos I just took.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, no problem, here is the 1.6 location.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ECONNER123
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Coolant is leaking into sensor creating a miss. Read have replaced it twice. Was wonder if there is suppose to be a seal in the coolant sensor port?
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi,

Is coolant leaking past the threads? If so, there is no seal. Try using Teflon tape on the threads and then properly tighten.

Let me know if that helps.

Joe
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ECONNER123
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It doesn't have threads.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Can you upload a pic of the part? I'm seeing one that threads into the engine in my manuals. How does this one attach?
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Okay, I found it. It is the one held in with a clip. First, pull the connector off and see if it is wet inside. These commonly go bad an leak through the sensor into the connector and then out. Also, there is an o-ring on the sensor. If it isn't leaking through the sensor, remove the old one, make sure where it goes into the engine is clean, and lubricate the o-ring prior to install. I usually use something like vasoline. If you don't lubricate the o-ring, there is a good chance it will be kicked and leak.

Make sure the sensor is fully pushed in and that the clip is properly seated.

I attached a pic of the sensor and circled the o-ring that I mentioned. However, remember that the o-ring may not be the problem but instead, it is leaking through the sensor, into the electrical connector, and then out.

Let me know if this helps.

Joe
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ECONNER123
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I have put two new ford OEM sensors in and they both leaked into the plug the guy at O'riellys said it more than likely is not the sensor but maybe all the sensors are bad?
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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If it is leaking through the sensor, try a different brand. I haven't heard of any concerns like this, but this may become an issue. Have you spoken to them at the dealer where you got the parts? As far as it not being the sensor, that doesn't even make sense. If it is leaking coolant and it is coming from where you indicated, what else could it be. I'm not sure what he was thinking.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BSANTSCHI
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Trying to locate the ECT sensor on my car it is the SE model.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
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You might not have one and instead you have a cylinder head temperature sensor which does about the same thing. But you do have a ECT which is on right top of cylinder head. See picture.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ECONNER123
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Okay, it is a Ford manufactured part but that's not saying much seeing as the car in question has several recalls. Lol
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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If you could, let me know if a different sensor takes care of the issue. I'm really interested in knowing. Also, make sure the O-ring wasn't the issue because you mentioned you didn't think there was one.

Take care and have a good weekend.

Joe
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARIOALBERTOATILANO
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I would like to know if the car listed above SE model has two cooling temperature sensors. I already replace the one from the cylinder head but my car keep overheating.
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
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Your vehicle only has one coolant temperature sensor so I doubt this is the reason for the overheat at this point. Here is a guide that will go over some of the common issues that cause an overheat:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

When does this overheat? Only when it idles or do you have to be driving?

Let me know this info and we can go from there. Thanks
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Saturday, August 29th, 2020 AT 1:00 PM (Merged)

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