P2185
- Powertrain
- Manufacturer-specific
- Emissions
Diagnose soon
Usually safe to drive short distances, but the fault will not clear itself and can worsen or fail an emissions test.
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit High
This code is in our catalogue but has not yet been through editorial review, so the guidance below is limited to what our structured data supports. We publish deeper diagnostic content only after a code has been reviewed — here is why.
The second coolant temperature sensor (often radiator-outlet or cylinder-head bank) reports a voltage above the upper threshold — typically an open signal wire or a sensor with infinite resistance.
A trouble code records what a control module measured. It does not identify which part failed. Test before replacing anything.
- Safe to drive
- Usually safe to drive short distances, but the fault will not clear itself and can worsen or fail an emissions test.
- Urgency
- Diagnose soon
- Will it pass emissions
- No
- Check engine light
- Solid
- Clearing the light
- A completed drive cycle is normally required before the monitor re-runs and the light can clear.
- Cooling fan runs constantly or not at all
- Cabin heater weak or excessively hot
- Possible long warm-up time or hard cold start
Many vehicles show no symptom at all beyond the warning light. The absence of a symptom does not mean the fault is not real.
| # | Cause | How often | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sensor element open | Very common | — |
| 2 | Signal wire open | Common | — |
| 3 | Connector pins corroded - high contact resistance | Occasional | — |
Ordering reflects how often each cause is responsible in general, not a probability for your vehicle. Confirm by testing.
- Coolant Temperature Sensor 2
- Sensor Wiring
- Definition
- Generic code set (SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6) via the OBDexopen database, dedicated to the public domain under CC0-1.0.
- Diagnostic guidance
- Written and reviewed in-house. See our editorial policy.
- Review status
- Awaiting review
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