This DTC indicates an open circuit in the thermal management system Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) coolant outlet temperature sensor — Seal 6 EV
This DTC indicates an open circuit in the thermal management system Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) coolant outlet temperature sensor.
The PHE is the core heat exchange component between the battery liquid cooling system and the air conditioning refrigerant system.
The outlet temperature sensor monitors the post-exchange coolant temperature, providing a critical feedback signal for precise battery pack temperature control.
An open circuit fault causes the ECU to receive an out-of-range high-voltage signal (typically near the 5V reference voltage), preventing the system from obtaining accurate outlet temperature data.
This triggers thermal management system protection strategies, which may limit battery charge and discharge power, disable air conditioning cooling, or activate forced air cooling.
Extreme cases pose a risk of battery thermal runaway.
The sensor utilizes an NTC thermistor with a normal operating temperature range of -40°C to 150°C.
During an open circuit, the resistance approaches infinity.
- 1Internal open circuit in the temperature sensor body: Long-term operation in high-temperature and high-humidity environments causes the internal thermistor element to age and break or causes dry solder joints, resulting in infinite resistance.
- 2Wiring harness open circuit or wear: The wiring harness connecting the sensor to the air conditioning controller/thermal management controller wears or breaks in the high-temperature, high-vibration area of the motor compartment, particularly at the corrugated conduit section near the plate heat exchanger.
- 3Poor connector contact: Water ingress and oxidation, backed-out pins, or a loose retaining clip at the sensor connector (usually located on the left side of the front compartment or at the battery pack cooling pipe connection) causing an intermittent connection.
- 4Plate heat exchanger assembly connector damaged: Pulling the temperature sensor connector during cooling pipe removal causes damage, or a failed connector seal causes internal corrosion.
- 5Control unit input terminal fault: Cold solder joint in the internal signal acquisition circuit of the air conditioning controller or battery management system (BMS), or a burnt protection resistor, preventing sensor signal recognition.
- 1Use the VDS2000/3000 diagnostic tool to read all DTCs and freeze frame data. Record the ambient temperature, vehicle speed, and battery status at the time of the fault. Confirm if the fault is intermittent.
- 2Locate the physical sensor: On Qin series models, find the sensor on the plate heat exchanger coolant outlet pipe on the left side of the front compartment (black connector, 2-wire). Inspect the connector condition and check for coolant leaks.
- 3Electrical measurement: Turn off the ignition, disconnect the sensor connector, and measure the resistance between the two sensor terminals (standard value at 20°C: approx. 2.5 kΩ ±5%; an open circuit displays OL or infinity). If abnormal, replace the sensor.
- 4Harness continuity test: Measure continuity between the sensor connector and the corresponding pin on the air conditioning controller (or thermal management module). Standard resistance must be less than 1Ω. Measure for short circuits to ground and power to confirm harness integrity.
- 5Voltage signal check: Connect the connector, turn the ignition switch to the ON position, and measure the signal wire voltage (normally 0.5-4.5V varying with temperature; approaches 5V reference voltage if the circuit is open) to confirm the fault condition.
- 6Component replacement and verification: Replace the temperature sensor with a genuine part (part number usually includes 'Temperature'). Use a dedicated coolant hose clamp tool to ensure a proper seal. Fill and bleed the coolant, then clear the fault code. Perform a 20-minute dynamic road test and observe the thermal management system data stream to verify the 'PHE outlet temperature' value changes normally with operating conditions.
- 7System function test: Turn on the air conditioning cooling and observe the battery cooling request signal. Confirm the temperature difference between the plate heat exchanger inlet and outlet is normal (usually 3-8°C) and the system sets no new temperature-related fault codes.
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