P050CCold Start Engine Coolant Temperature Performance
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- How the car detects it
- P050C is documented only on Bosch ME9 in the Saab 9-3 V6 2.8 turbo: a cold-start plausibility check of the coolant temperature sensor. After a long stop coolant and intake air must read about the same; the code sets if coolant is more than 10 °C below or 15 °C above intake air, once per trip with the warning lamp. A wrong coolant reading distorts cold-start enrichment and can run the fan on a cold engine. The common reading 'coolant warms up too slowly' does not fit – that is P0125/P0128. GM, Ford and FCA do not use P050C.
- What you may notice
- Check engine light on
- Rough running after a cold start
- Radiator fan runs with a cold engine
- Likely causes
- LikelyCoolant temperature sensor drifting, wrong characteristic
- PossibleContact resistance or corrosion at the coolant or intake air sensor connector
- PossibleIntake air temperature sensor reading wrong
- RareAuxiliary heater or block heater not recognised, very short stop
- Inspection (ITP)
- Matters for the ITP. While the check-engine light is on, the car fails the emissions check.
- Repair
- Easy · Often possible to do yourself.Typical cost: €30 – €180
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.