Walker Products explains how to replace an exhaust gas temperature sensor, more commonly referred to as an EGT sensor.
A2012 Ram 2500 with the Cummins diesel engine had a check engine light on, and Nick, from Walker Products, diagnosed a faulty EGT sensor. The EGT sensor is responsible for reading the temperature of the exhaust and sending this information back to the ECU, which will then use the information to properly control the exhaust after-treatment system – reducing harmful emissions.
When an EGT sensor fails and the readings become too high, or non-existent, this leads to a compromised after-treatment system, resulting in the following conditions:
- Clogged diesel particulate filter
- Improper regeneration of the DPF
- Over fuelling
- Increased exhaust temperature, which can lead to failure of exhaust components or internal engine components
- An idle only state, commonly known as limp mode
Step-by-step guide
Note: Although the vehicle in this guide is an American vehicle, the techniques can be applied to vehicles more commonly seen in the UK.
1. After the vehicle is raised, the first thing to do is to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery, then locate the failed EGT sensor.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector.
3. Unthread the old sensor.
4. Apply anti-seize to the threads.
5. Thread the new sensor.
6. Install the sensor, then torque to the manufacturer’s specification – in this instance it was 45 Nm.
7. Next, reinstall the electrical connector, making sure to also reinstall the safety clip. This completes the EGT sensor installation.
