Your Volkswagen works hard to maintain an excellent overall temperature. Through the use of coolant, your VW’s engine can avoid a variety of symptoms, such as overheating. But how does your car know how much coolant to use to maintain an optimal balance? The answer to this is through using a Coolant Temperature Sensor, also known as the acronym: CTS.
A CTS is vital for your Volkswagen’s health, and making sure it is operating correctly is crucial for avoiding some of the fatal symptoms of not providing enough coolant. We have compiled a listing of some of the symptoms of a failing CTS and what we think you should know about them. If you suspect that your vehicle’s CTS is not operating correctly, we would advise you not to wait to get it repaired.
How does a coolant temperature sensor work?
A coolant temperature sensor detects the temperature of the coolant mix inside of your cooling system. The sensor reads how much heat your vehicle’s engine is giving off, allowing your cooling system to adjust the amount of coolant circulated to negate the heat problem.
Specifically, a CTS works with the engine control unit, also known as an ECU, to transmit the information. The ECU recognizes the temperature and sends it to the CTS via an electric signal. The CTS then provides the necessary information to adjust the coolant mix, the fuel injection system, and the cooling fan.
Signs that Your CTS should be Replaced
There are a number of ways to tell if your Volkswagen’s CTS is failing or broken. Here are a few signs that something is wrong and that you should bring your vehicle to a mechanic:
- You feel extreme heat coming from the hood of the vehicle. Excessive heat that is outside of the average temperature is a symptom of an overheating engine. One of the most common reasons for an overheated engine is a faulty CTS that does not provide the information needed for your engine to cool down using coolants.
- Your engine is ejecting black smoke. Black smoke is never a good thing. If your engine is expelling black smoke from the exhaust, this could signify that your CTS is not regulating the amount of coolant mixture needed to prevent your engine from overheating.
- You do not get the same amount of gas mileage while driving. A CTS also provides instructions on how the engine should time its use of fuel. As a result, a broken CTS will cause your engine to think it is running cold. This prevents your car from effectively using gas, causing it to drastically increase due to the lack of communication between the CTS and ECU.
- Your engine warning light is on. The engine warning light on your dashboard can indicate many different problems, a faulty CTS being one of these. While it may not directly be related to your CTS, investigating the root cause of an engine warning light is always a smart move.
DART Auto Can Chill Your Volkswagen Down
At DART Auto, we make it our number one priority to fix any issues your Volkswagen or other German car is having. Whether it is an issue 
with your CTS, brakes, oil changes, heating, cooling, or anything else, we have you covered.
We believe in quality service and repairs done right the first time, which is why we hire certified technicians with years of experience diagnosing and repairing issues with cars. Priding ourselves as being more than just a repair shop, we offer an industry-leading nationwide 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on any repair job that fails.
Beyond our excellent warranty policy, we also know that not getting from one place to another is troubling. Since we want you to continue your daily routine while getting your car serviced, we provide loaner cars to help you have a smooth day while allowing us to repair your VW.
If you feel that your CTS is having issues, make an appointment to have a mechanic look into your problem today. You can call us or stop into our shop at 4801 Monaco Street in Denver, CO. We service the Centennial, Englewood, and Littleton areas. We look forward to earning your business!
