P0119 fault code: Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent

P0119 means “Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Do not probe a hot coolant-temp sensor; confirm P0119 and recover if the gauge is unstable.

Do not DIYReviewed page boundary
ToolsSpecialist equipment

This is the conservative boundary from the reviewed code record. This page has no frozen site-wide safety grade, so it does not publish a repair route.

What to tell the garage about P0119

Do not drive. Engine coolant temperature is flickering, so the gauge and the computer may disagree from one second to the next, including a false cold or a missed hot spike.

Take these reviewed, code-specific details with you. They help the garage confirm the fault without turning this page into a repair procedure.

  • Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent: Registration number
  • Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent: Exact code P0119 and how the gauge jumped, if it did
  • Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent: Any steam, coolant smell, or recent thermostat work
  • Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Intermittent: Whether the light comes and goes with engine temperature
P01xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0119 mean?

P0119 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 Intermittent”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0119 fail an MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until the fault is repaired and the lamp stays off. P0119 is intermittent; a lamp that is on in the bay still fails.

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.

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

P0119 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0119?

Do not drive. We have no verified driving guidance for P0119 — treat as do not drive until checked. An intermittent coolant-temp circuit can hide an overheat between glitches.

Will P0119 fail my MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until the fault is repaired and the lamp stays off. P0119 is intermittent; a lamp that is on in the bay still fails.

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.