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P0113: intake air temperature sensor circuit high
P0113 means the intake air temperature sensor sends a signal that is too high, which the computer reads as extremely cold air, often minus 40 °C. In most cases the plug is loose or a wire is broken, and it often appears right after an air filter change.
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- Runs on your device
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Check your car for P0113
Runs on your device
Connect your OBD2 adapter
- Plug the adapter into the OBD2 port – usually under the steering wheel, near the pedals.
- Switch the ignition on, or start the engine.
- Bluetooth adapter? Turn Bluetooth on. Nothing else to set up.
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What P0113 means
The intake air temperature sensor (IAT) measures the temperature of the air entering the engine. Cold air is denser, so the engine computer uses this value to fine-tune fuel and ignition timing. On many cars the sensor is built into the air flow sensor; on others it sits in the air box or the intake hose.
The sensor is a resistor whose value changes with temperature. When the circuit is open, because of an unplugged connector, a broken wire or corroded pins, the voltage rises to its maximum. The computer stores P0113 and uses a fixed replacement value instead. The opposite fault, a signal that is too low, is P0112.
Symptoms of P0113
- Usually none, apart from the check engine light.
- Sometimes harder starting or a slightly rough idle.
- Live data showing an intake air temperature of about minus 40 °C on a warm day.
Causes of P0113, cheapest first
Work down the list in order: the first checks cost little or nothing, the last ones are jobs for a workshop.
An unplugged or loose connector
The classic case after an air filter change or other work on the intake: the plug of the sensor or the air flow sensor was not refitted properly. Push it in until it clicks.
Corroded or bent pins
Moisture in the connector causes high resistance. Clean the contacts with electrical contact spray and check that no pin has been pushed back.
A broken wire
Look for chafed spots where the harness bends or touches the engine. A wire that breaks only when the engine moves gives an intermittent code.
A faulty sensor
If the wiring is good, the sensor may be open inside. Its resistance should change smoothly when you warm it in your hand; the values are in the repair data for your car.
The engine control unit
Only very rarely: if the sensor and wiring test fine, the input in the computer may be faulty. Rule out everything else first.
Can you drive with P0113?
Safe to drive. The engine computer replaces the missing value with a fixed estimate, so the car usually drives normally. Fix it when convenient; most of the time it costs nothing more than refitting a plug.
Check P0113 with OBD Studio
Connect your adapter above, or try the demo car, then:
- In Live data, look at Intake air temperature. About minus 40 °C on a warm engine confirms an open circuit; a realistic value means the fault comes and goes.
- With the engine idling and the value on screen, gently wiggle the plug and the harness. If the reading jumps, you have found the bad contact.
- Compare it with Outside air temperature, if your car reports it: after the car has stood for a while, the two should be close.
- Clear the code after the repair. With the plug fixed, it should not return.
More fault code guides
Each of these codes has its own page with causes ranked by cost and the checks that go with them.
- P0420Catalyst efficiency below threshold
- P0171System too lean
- P0300Random or multiple misfire
- P0455EVAP system large leak
- P0442EVAP system small leak
- P0128Engine warms up too slowly
- P0172System too rich
- P0401EGR flow too low
- P0101Air flow sensor implausible
- P0135Front O2 sensor heater
- P0016Crankshaft and camshaft out of step
- P0011Intake camshaft timing over-advanced
- P0141Rear O2 sensor heater
- P0457Fuel cap loose or missing
- P0299Turbo underboost
- P0700Transmission control system fault
- P0087Fuel rail pressure too low
- P0562System voltage low
- U0100Lost communication with engine computer
More OBD Studio pages
Frequently asked questions
Why does my car show minus 40 °C intake air temperature?
That is the lowest value the OBD2 standard can show, and engines report it when the sensor circuit is open. It almost always means an unplugged connector, a broken wire or a failed sensor, not cold air.
Can P0113 appear after changing the air filter?
Yes, very often. The sensor or its plug sits on the air box or on the air flow sensor, and it is easy to leave it loose. Check the plug first.
Is the intake air temperature sensor part of the MAF sensor?
On many modern cars it is: one housing contains both sensors, and you replace them together. On other cars it is a separate small sensor in the air box or the intake hose.
Can I read P0113 without going to a workshop?
Yes. With any ELM327-compatible Bluetooth LE or USB adapter, OBD Studio on this page reads P0113 and every other stored code for free, shows the freeze frame and clears the code after the repair. Nothing to install, no account.
