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coolant temperature sensor

5K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  jnichols 
#1 ·
Hi, I've had my smart for two about a year (love it) but I have a PO116 error code. I filled the water/antifreeze container (it was dry). The check engine light is still on (the nearest certified dealer is 150 miles away) Now what do I do?
 
#2 ·
If the reservoir was empty, you will likely have to keep checking it as air burps out of the system. I would guess you have a leak somewhere, but the code may have been from low coolant. I've not had any coolant issues on mmy Smart so I can't direct you to where the thermostat is, but I have had these issues with other cars and it should be pretty much the same. Problems I've encountered in order of frequency are thermostat stuck (open or closed), leaky/ruptured hoses, radiator fan died, failed water pump.

Have you cleared the code and had it return?
Is the coolant level stable or has it dropped again?
Does the fan behind the radiator come on?
 
#5 ·
The code was likely because you're engine was overheating. Hopefully it didn't warp the head. You have to burp the system to remove trapped air. There's a coolant hose in the transmission side that you need to remove and wait until coolant starts pouring out and then hook it back up.
Sadly smart don't have a coolant temperature gauge and you often get a check engine light when it's too late
 
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