Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low: 5 Easy Ways

Have you noticed the message Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low? If that’s the case and you are wondering why this is happening, you are at the right place. Because, in this article, there will be a lot to cover on this issue.

So, why would the Start/Stop Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low appear? Well, there can be several reasons. Namely, problems with the cooling system in your Jeep.

Like problems with the thermostat, coolant temperature sensor, and also problems with the radiator. But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to explain everything.

Stop Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low

Doing your research on a problem like in our case with the Stop Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low Jeep Cherokee is important, you just don’t want to rely on mechanics who often can misdiagnose stuff and rip you off in the end. 

So, learning more about the causes of the engine temperature too low Jeep is the key. And this is why we are here to help you out.

First, we are going to learn what a Stop/Start system is and how it works. Then we are going to elaborate more on the Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low Jeep and learn about the problem and the main causes.

Then, we are going to learn how to solve the problem. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the article.

What Is A Stop/Start System?

Before we dive into more complex topics like the problem with the Start Stop Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low, let’s first learn more about the Stop/Start system and see how this system works.

So, what is the Stop/Start? Well, this is a special system that some cars have. The Stop/Start usually does not come as standard and you have to opt out of this system separately.

What Is A Stop/Start System?

What is worth noting is that this is not something new in the car world. These systems have been used for two decades and now they finally break the mainstream.

But what does the Stop/Start system do? This system has two roles, the first is reducing pollution, and the second role is increasing fuel economy.

And this system does these tasks pretty well. It helps a lot when it comes to reducing fuel consumption. Thus, preventing pollution.

But how does this system work? More on how the Stop/Start system works, we are going to elaborate in the following chapter.

How Does The Stop/Start System Work?

Now let’s take a look at how the Stop/Start system works, what are the main working principles of this system?

This system is controlled by the PCM, also known as the Powertrain Control Module, this unit is known as ECU or ECM. This is the engine control unit or car computer.

This computer is smart enough to detect when the vehicle is not moving. In this situation, it will turn off the engine.

For example, you stopped at a stop light and you are waiting for the lights to change. The system is smart enough to recognize this and the system will turn off the engine in the process.

This system does this by cutting the ignition and the fuel delivery in the engine. So, the engine is simply switched off. Then your Jeep turns off when stopped.

Then, once you press the gas pedal, the system will acknowledge that you want to move forward and start the engine.

For this application, there are stronger AGM or EFB batteries. This is the case because your standard car battery will not work well under these circumstances.

Continuous cranking of the engine will quickly degrade the battery life. This is why you need one of these advanced designs that are designed specifically for Stop/Start systems.

But what happens if the engine temperature is too low or the car does not reach operating temperature? More on that, we are going to elaborate next where we will elaborate on the problem itself.

What Does It Mean?

Now let’s move on to the problem and learn more about what this message means when your Jeep says that the engine temperature is too low.

As you probably know, the engine needs to run at an operating temperature. This operating temperature depends on the type of engine.

The computer knows exactly how many degrees the coolant must reach to reach the normal operating temperatures.

Nevertheless, when you get the message that says “Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low” it means that the engine has a difficult time reaching operating temperature.

Because of this problem, the engine could not reach operating temperature, and the Stop/Start system was not active.

This means that you will not be able to use the Stop/Start system until the engine reaches the right operating temperature.

The important thing is that you should not panic because of this message. This does not necessarily mean that you have a problem with your Jeep.

So, if you want to learn more about the main causes of this problem. You must follow us closely in the following chapters, while we elaborate on every possible cause for this problem very thoroughly.

5 Causes of Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low

Now let’s move on and elaborate more on the causes for this problem and see what could be causing this issue in your Jeep.

Knowing the causes is important for you to be able to diagnose the issue quickly and effectively. So, let’s dive into the causes and see what could be triggering this problem.

1. Broken Thermostat

A broken thermostat can cause problems like this when you have low temperature in your Jeep, or engine coolant over temperature Jeep Grand Cherokee.

When it comes to the Jeep Cherokee thermostat problems it is worth noting that there can be two scenarios.

Jeep Broken Thermostat

The first scenario is when you get a coolant temperature high Jeep Renegade. In this case, the thermostat is stuck in a closed position.

This means that the system is not circulating the engine coolant. And consequently, the engine will overheat.

But in this case, when the engine temperature is low, the thermostat is probably open all the time. In this case, the engine has problems reaching the operating temperature.

If the engine has trouble reaching the operating temperature, it will run poorly and also cause problems with the Stop/Start system like in our case.

Luckily, replacing this thermostat is not that difficult and you can do it by yourself. This component is usually located on top of the engine where the coolant hose goes into the engine.

You just need to remove the hose and replace the thermostat, problem is solved. And also it is very affordable. Which means that you will not pay a ton of money to fix the problem.

2. Faulty Coolant Temperature Sensor

The second most common cause of this problem is a faulty coolant temperature sensor. So, what is this sensor and why is it causing these problems?

The coolant temperature sensor is also known as the ECT sensor. This sensor has a special role in reading the coolant temperature in the engine.

Jeep Faulty Coolant Temperature Sensor

The sensor is mounted on the block itself and gets a reading from the coolant that is inside the engine block.

Although many people think that this sensor is non-important, this is not the case. Because by reading the coolant temperature, this sensor among the many tasks, also regulates the Stop/Start system.

So, if the coolant temperature sensor is broken, you will get this message that the temperature of the coolant is low.

That’s why it is one of the first things that you can check. You can diagnose this sensor with a multimeter and you can access the DTC codes with a special OBD2 scanner tool. 

If you are into diagnostics, you are probably familiar with these tools. If not, you can familiarize yourself by watching YouTube on how to test a coolant temperature sensor.

3. Faulty Coolant Temperature Gauge

A bad coolant temperature gauge can also cause problems such as this.

So, if you notice how the Jeep Grand Cherokee temperature gauge goes up and down and the Renegade coolant temperature fluctuation, you probably have a bad temperature gauge.

Jeep Faulty Coolant Temperature Gauge

So, what is the temperature gauge? Well, the temperature gauge is the component that is mounted on your dash.

This component gives you information about the coolant temperature. So, if this component is malfunctioning and giving you the wrong data, it could also affect the Stop/Start system.

That’s why you must address this component and make sure that the coolant temperature gauge is working properly before you jump to conclusions.

4. Freezing Weather

Another very common cause for this problem is freezing cold weather. Cars do not like extreme cold because they can’t get up to the proper working temperature easily.

You have probably seen some people putting cardboard to prevent airflow in the radiator so the engine gets up to temperature more easily.

Jeep Wrangler Freezing Weather

This is a big problem, especially in extremely cold weather environments where temperatures get well below zero.

This cold weather will also trigger the problem with the Stop/Start system. That’s why you shouldn’t panic because the engine is most probably having trouble reaching the temperature.

Once the engine reaches the recommended temperature, the Stop/Start system will resume its work.

5. Software Glitch

The last probable cause for this problem is a simple software glitch. Nothing is perfect, not the Jeep onboard software.

So, sometimes it can happen because of some bugs in the software to experience issues. A simple software update at the dealership could solve this problem in your Jeep.

This is why if nothing helps, the last option is that this is a software bug. The technicians there will remove the codes and your Jeep will work as well as new.

How To Fix Stop/Start Not Ready: Low Engine Temperature?

Fixing this problem is relatively easy. The first thing that you need to make sure is that the thermostat is opening and closing correctly.

You can do this by observing the temperature gauge. If the engine has a difficult time reaching operating temperature, the thermostat is probably stuck open.

If the engine reaches operating temperature and the car starts to overheat, you have a thermostat that is stuck closed.

If the temperatures are good, the thermostat should be good. Then you want to check the coolant temperature sensor.

You can access the computer with a special tool known as an OBD2 scanner. With this scanner, you can scan the car for DTC codes.

Best OBD2 Scanner That Does Everything

If there are codes with the coolant temperature sensor, you most likely have to replace this component and this would solve the problem.

If the car cannot get up to the temperature because you drive through freezing cold, then it’s highly likely that this is causing the problem.

If everything is normal and you get this troubling message, then it must be some software glitch. Software can create these bugs and they can only be solved with a special diagnostics computer that the dealership has.

You better visit a dealership to get this problem sorted out. They will remove the codes and will update the software, fixing this problem in no time.

Conclusion

In this article, we covered quite a bit when it comes to the situation when you get the message “Stop/Start Not Ready Engine Temperature Too Low”.

First, we elaborated on the Stop/Start system and learned what it does. Then we learned more about this specific problem. So, what could be causing this issue?

It seems like the trouble mostly links back to the cooling system, especially with things like the thermostat and coolant temperature sensor potentially acting up.

Plus, if the temperature gauge isn’t working right, that could add to the problem. But honestly, it’s probably all tied to a pesky software bug causing the main issue.

So, try to visit your nearest dealership and let them handle this issue for you, in case you are not into mechanical work.

If you want to learn more about Jeep problems, you can check the following article “Jeep Wrangler All Warning Lights On”.

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Hi there, my name is Nikola. I've spent more than a decade covered in grease and with a big smile on my face, as I've been exploring everything that has an engine. Although Jeeps are my favorite, I have a deep love for all things automotive.

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