Engine Oil Temperature Sensor Circuit Low

What it means

The engine computer has seen the oil temperature sensor signal voltage drop below the minimum allowed. In most designs this is read as a very high oil temperature, usually caused by the signal wire shorting to ground or a short inside the sensor, and on some cars the computer may run the fans or limit engine performance as a precaution.

Related codes: P0195P0196P0198P0199P0117

Symptoms4

• Check engine light on.
• Implausibly high oil temperature reading.
• Cooling fans running constantly on some vehicles.
• Temporary limit on engine performance on some vehicles.

Possible causes4

• Signal wire shorted to ground through heat-damaged insulation.
• Internal short in the oil temperature sensor.
• Oil or water inside the connector bridging the terminals.
• Engine computer fault (rare).

How to diagnose5

1. First confirm the engine is not really overheating by comparing with coolant temperature.
2. Watch the reading on a scan tool with the engine cold; a very high reading confirms the low voltage.
3. Unplug the connector; if the reading switches to very cold, the short is most likely inside the sensor.
4. If the reading does not change after unplugging, check the signal wire for a short to ground.
5. Inspect the connector for oil or moisture.

How to fix4

1. Clean and dry the connector, and fix the oil leak reaching it.
2. Repair the wire shorted to ground.
3. Replace the oil temperature sensor if it is shorted internally.
4. Clear the codes and confirm the reading makes sense cold and hot.

Repair cost

In Saudi riyals; the highlighted part is the expected range for this fault.

A wiring repair or connector cleaning is cheap; a new sensor raises the cost, especially if the oil must be drained.

Prices are rough estimates for common cars at independent workshops and vary with the car and the source of the part.
Prices last updated: September 2026

Frequently asked questions