P01E3 code meaning
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit
Powertrain system Generic code P01xx codes Check engine light
What P01E3 means
Coolant temperature sensor 3 is a third NTC coolant sensor on engines with thermal management or split cooling circuits; its position is defined by the manufacturer – on Jaguar Land Rover's 2018–2019 Ingenium gasoline engines it sits in the engine block water jacket, on Audi's 3.0 TFSI V6 it is part of the thermal management. As with every NTC sensor, a low signal voltage means hot and a high one cold. CARB requires such additional sensors to be monitored from model year 2019 onwards. P01E3 is the general circuit fault of this sensor without telling low from high. No manufacturer document using exactly this code was found; it is described by analogy with its documented sibling codes and the NTC principle.
P01E3 at a glance
- Check engine lightYes, usually on
- Emissions testCan fail
- Limp modeNot expected
- Repair difficultyMedium, DIY possible
- Typical labor0.5 to 2 hours
- Clears after repairAfter a drive cycle
Symptoms of P01E3
- Check engine light on
- Coolant temperature or cooling fan behaviour possibly affected
- Often no change in driving
Common causes of P01E3
- Most likelyOpen circuit or loose contact at connector or wiring of sensor 3
- Most likelySensor open or shorted
- PossibleShort to ground or voltage in the harness
- Less likelyControl module
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
Engine coolant temperature sensor 3Sensor wiring
What each part of P01E3 means
| P | Powertrain system: engine, fuel system, ignition, emissions and transmission. |
| 0 | Generic code: it means the same on every make (SAE standard). |
| 1 | Area: fuel and air metering. |
| E3 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note P01E3 and any other codes stored with it: several codes together often point to one cause.
- Check for loose connectors and damaged wiring around the parts the code names.
- Check open recalls for your car: some faults are fixed for free by the dealer. Enter your VIN.
- Clear the code only after the repair. If it comes back, the fault is still there.
Buying a used car? Scan it for stored codes before you pay. A recently cleared memory can hide a problem.
Questions about P01E3
What does P01E3 mean?
P01E3 means "Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit". Coolant temperature sensor 3 is a third NTC coolant sensor on engines with thermal management or split cooling circuits; its position is defined by the manufacturer – on Jaguar Land Rover's 2018–2019 Ingenium gasoline engines it sits in the engine block water jacket, on Audi's 3.0 TFSI V6 it is part of the thermal management. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with P01E3?
Usually yes, for a short time, if the check engine light is steady and the car drives normally. If the light flashes or the car runs badly, stop and have it checked.
Will P01E3 fail an emissions test?
Yes, it can. P01E3 is emissions-related, so most inspection programs fail a car while it is stored or while the check engine light is on.
How hard is P01E3 to fix?
Difficulty: medium. A typical repair takes 0.5 to 2 hours of work. A careful DIY repair is possible with basic tools and a scanner.
Will P01E3 clear itself after the repair?
After the repair the car has to complete a drive cycle (a mix of city and highway driving) before the test runs again. Until then the readiness monitor shows "not ready", which can fail an inspection.