Code 6: Coolant Temp. Is it bad?

I have had me CEL go on a few times in the last month. The only time it goes on is when i am driving for a while at normal engine temp and i will shut the car off for a few minutes, like 10-15, and when i come back out and start up the car the light is on until i shut the car off again. is this a bad thing?

bump

Hey man you should try resetting your ECU if you say your temp guage is normal. To do this just unplug the negative battery terminal for about 10 mins then fire it up again. Let your car idle for about 20 mins WITHOUT touching the throttle and letting your ECU adjust air and fuel ratios. After about 20 mins turn the car off again to save the data then start it up and take it for a spin. Hopefully your CEL will have cleared. Hope this helps

i actually had no idea that the ecu reprogrammed its air/fuel ratios after being reset, nor did i know that you had to turn it off after a few mins to save the data.

i thought "resetting" just referred to clearing the codes.

i've learned today.

OR, you could pull the hazard fuse for about 10 secs...the ecu doesnt really save any settings, that would be pointless, it is constantly changing the variables to meet parameters set in the program, and if you step outside them it lets you know, running the car for 20 minutes will likely cause it to run real rich untill you clear it out some. those codes will stick around...the hazard fuse is the one at the very bottom of the under-hood fuse box when viewed from the passenger fender...it is a 10 amp.

i actually had no idea that the ecu reprogrammed its air/fuel ratios after being reset

Yeah whenever i pull the either the battery OR pull the Hazard fuse in the main shock tower fuse box, I notice after first startup that the engine undergoes a lot of idle fluctuations as the ECU is being programmed...and no this is NOT the car just idling high because its cold. The car is actually making adjustments based on any new alterations of the motor. For example, when i changed my O2 sensor, I reset the ECU and not only did it erase the CEL but my car felt alot smoother after the ECU was programmed. Resetting the ECU is something i occasionally do since our OBD0 ECUs dont do it automatically. I know OBD2 ECUs reset every 5 cold starts or so.

OR, you could pull the hazard fuse for about 10 secs...the ecu doesnt really save any settings, that would be pointless, it is constantly changing the variables to meet parameters set in the program, and if you step outside them it lets you know, running the car for 20 minutes will likely cause it to run real rich untill you clear it out some. those codes will stick around...the hazard fuse is the one at the very bottom of the under-hood fuse box when viewed from the passenger fender...it is a 10 amp.

Actually, you should probably go ahead and pull the 15a ECU fuse as well as the hazard fuse. One time when my speedo cable popped out a bit, I threw a code 17 and I pulled the hazard fuse and it didn't reset the ecu until I pulled the ecu fuse.

Also, you don't have to let the car sit for 20 min. You should just reset the ecu and then start the car and let idle for 5 min. then cut it off, then start it up and drive as normal. Honestly, I don't think that's even necessary...

Its not, and of course the car is going to do some wierd crap to begin with, its going from absolutely no information, basically a new ecu. Its not saving anything but rather picking up where it left off the next time it starts.

ill reset the ecu, but there is nothing big that i should worry about with the code 6?

ill reset the ecu, but there is nothing big that i should worry about with the code 6?

First, make sure your coolant temp sensor (underneath the distributor) is not sticking out, loose or broken.

Yeah, they pull off very easily.

ill reset the ecu, but there is nothing big that i should worry about with the code 6?

It's a pretty important sensor, it is one of the main things that controls your air/fuel ratios. Also, if your car is equipped with vtec, it won't work while you have this CEL.

BTW, its the two wire plug on the passenger side of the head, it's a green and red wire plug.

i just checked that plug under the distributor, but i could not ell what color it is because it is coverd with 242,000 miles of dirt, but it was not loose. Oh well, it doesnt happen all the time and it doesnt seem to be a very big problem. Thanks for the help.