P2185

Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit High

Fuel & air metering Generic OBD-II Low

What it means

P2185 means the PCM saw an abnormally high voltage (an open or high-resistance reading) on the engine coolant temperature sensor 2 circuit — as if the engine were very cold. This is a sensor-circuit fault, not an overheating condition, but the wrong reading can make the engine run rich, hurt cold starts, and confuse cooling-fan control. The usual causes are the sensor itself or a corroded/open connector or wire.

Low

Can I keep driving? Generally safe to drive — the car may run rich or cold-start harder and cooling fans may misbehave; fix it to protect fuel economy and emissions.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

1,283

scans in the past year

Found in

0.2%

of scans

0.4%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P2185 scans

P0113in 22.4% of scans

P0102in 16.8% of scans

P0533in 12.8% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on
Harder cold starts or rich running (engine thinks it's cold)
Reduced fuel economy
Cooling fans may run constantly or not as expected

Common causes

Most likely first

Fault in the ECT sensor 2 circuit — high resistance or open reading as maximum voltageLikely
Faulty engine coolant temperature sensor 2Common
Sensor harness open or shortedCommon
Poor connection or corrosion at the sensor connectorLess often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data and compare sensor 2's reading to sensor 1 and actual engine temp.
Inspect the ECT sensor 2 connector for corrosion or a loose/open terminal.
Check for a steady ~5 V reference and a good ground, key on/engine off.
Test the sensor's resistance against its temperature spec; an open circuit reads as high voltage.
Replace the coolant temperature sensor 2 if it's out of spec, then re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P2185?+

Usually yes — it's a sensor-circuit fault, not an overheating condition. Expect slightly worse economy and cold-start behavior until fixed.

Can I just clear P2185?+

It clears, but returns if the sensor or its wiring is still faulty; the circuit has to be repaired to keep it off.

Read & clear P2185 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX