Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor: Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2020 Ford F-550 Super Duty, 2020 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty, and 2020 Ford F-150. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The ECT sensor is a thermistor device in which resistance changes with temperature. The electrical resistance of a thermistor decreases as the temperature increases, and resistance increases as the temperature decreases. The varying resistance affects the voltage drop across the sensor terminals and provides electrical signals to the PCM corresponding to temperature.