P0116 fault code: Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Range/Performance

Last updated · OBDCode UK editorial

Can I drive with P0116? — Drive with care

Our verified driving guidance for P0116 is: drive with care. Drive only if the gauge is normal. Stop if the gauge climbs into the hot zone, you see steam, or coolant is lost.

P0116 means “Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Range/Performance” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain. Drive with care. Coolant temperature is moving in a way the computer does not trust — too slow, too fast, or stuck — so warm-up fuelling and the fan strategy may be wrong. A red gauge is a different, urgent problem.

Can I DIY?

Caution — conditions apply. We do not publish DIY repair or strip-down steps for this code on this page. Read codes and observe only; leave the repair to a qualified garage.

Caution — conditions applyDIY boundary
ToolsBasic tools only — for example a household socket set, tyre gauge, or a consumer OBD reader.

Some checks may be possible for a careful DIY driver with the right tools and a safe place to work. Stop if anything feels beyond your skill or kit.

P01xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0116 mean?

P0116 is a generic (SAE standard) powertrain code reported by your car’s engine control unit. It sits in the P01xx block, which covers fuel and air metering. The stored description is “Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Range/Performance”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0116 fail an MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until the fault is repaired and the lamp stays off. P0116 is a coolant-temperature performance flag, not itself an MOT temperature reading.

Before booking your test, check what usually fails on your car: see our MOT pass rates by make and model, built from 33.1 million DVSA tests.

What the MOT data says

No MOT certificate item corresponds to this code; MOT outcome data cannot be shown.

Related guides

Car diagnostic test cost: compare the scopeUK booking marketplaces currently publish diagnostic averages of about £52–£65. Engine management light on: steady or flashing?A steady engine management light means the computer has stored a fault. Drive with caution and get the code read. A flashing light is different — stop when it is safe. Car overheating but coolant looks full: stop and recoverNo — do not continue driving while the engine is overheating, even if the expansion bottle looks full. Move only far enough to reach a place of relative safety, switch off, and… Coolant keeps disappearing with no visible leakA falling cold level still means coolant is escaping; never open a hot pressurised system.
P0100Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit P0101Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Range/Performance P0102Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Low Input P0103Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit High Input P0104Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent P0105Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit P0106Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit Range/Performance P0107Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit Low Input

P0116 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0116?

Drive with care. Our verified driving guidance for P0116 is: drive with care. Drive only if the gauge is normal. Stop if the gauge climbs into the hot zone, you see steam, or coolant is lost.

Can I fix P0116 myself?

Caution — conditions apply. We do not publish DIY repair or strip-down steps for this code on this page. Read codes and observe only; leave the repair to a qualified garage. Basic tools only — for example a household socket set, tyre gauge, or a consumer OBD reader.

Will P0116 fail my MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until the fault is repaired and the lamp stays off. P0116 is a coolant-temperature performance flag, not itself an MOT temperature reading.

Fault-code identifiers are standard diagnostic facts. Their explanations and diagnostic guidance on this site are original editorial summaries, not reproduced SAE wording. MOT defect rules reflect the DVSA MOT inspection manual (2026). This page is general guidance for UK drivers, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.