Car Coolant Temperature Sensor Replacement Cost in UAE (2026)
The coolant temperature sensor (also called the ECT sensor — Engine Coolant Temperature) measures the engine coolant temperature and sends this data to the ECU. The ECU uses this information to adjust fuel enrichment (more fuel when cold), ignition timing, idle speed, and to control the radiator fan. A failed coolant temperature sensor causes the ECU to operate on incorrect temperature data, leading to rich running on a warm engine (black smoke, poor fuel economy), incorrect fan control, inaccurate temperature gauge readings, and a check engine light with a coolant temperature sensor code. In UAE, these sensors fail from heat cycling and coolant corrosion.
Coolant Temperature Sensor Replacement Costs in UAE (2026)
| Service | Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Coolant temperature sensor replacement (common) | 60-200 |
| Coolant temperature sensor (European luxury) | 100-400 |
| Radiator fan temperature switch replacement | 60-150 |
| Coolant top-up after sensor replacement | 30-80 |
Coolant Sensor Diagnosis in UAE
A UAE garage can test the coolant temperature sensor with a multimeter — sensor resistance should change predictably with temperature (most NTC sensors read around 2,000-3,000 ohms cold and 200-300 ohms at operating temperature). An OBD scan reading P0115-P0119 (coolant temperature sensor circuit) confirms the fault. Note that the temperature gauge sender and the ECT sensor are sometimes separate components — replacing one may not fix the other. In UAE, a stuck-cold temperature gauge (gauge never rises even when the engine is warm) combined with poor fuel economy and slight black smoke from overfuelling is a classic ECT sensor failure pattern. Use GarageBuddy to find UAE garages for coolant system diagnosis.