P0113 is defined as “Intake Air Temperature Sensor Circuit High”. Below is a guide that will guide you through what this code means, common symptoms that you may notice if this code is present. Also, we will go through common causes and repairs with estimated costs.
For more thorough information about this code, look at our guide below for P0113.
What is P0113?
Modern cars contain numerous sensors that monitor everything that you can imagine. Sensors that monitor fuel pressure that is being supplied to the fuel injectors to sensors that monitor how much air is in your tires.
The sensor at fault that can cause the P0113 code is the Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor.
This sensor is generally located somewhere in the air filter ducting. It measures intake air temperature using the thermistor based on electrical resistance.
The IAT sensor is used to measure the temperature of the air that is being drawn into the engine. Using this data, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) can than determine the correct amount and timing of fuel injection and spark timing.
The PCM is the car’s brain that monitors many systems, manages control emissions and transmissions, maximizes fuel efficiency among many other things. Using this data from the IAT sensor, the PCM can easily start up the engine in winter and on summer days.
The PCM sends a 5V voltage to IAT, the PCM than monitors the incoming data back to determine what the temperature of the air is. By monitoring the voltages on the return and supply circuit the PCM can self-diagnose circuit issues.
If the voltage is above 4.91V for a specified period of time, the PCM determines there is a fault. Code P0113 sets which means an issue with IAT sensor 1 or its circuits.
Symptoms of P0113
The exact symptom of the code P0113 depends on the manufactured car model and make as symptoms vary from car to car. But some signs are most likely to appear. Thus, if the vehicle is showing up the following things, there is a chance that your vehicle may have P0113 :
- Engine light appears
- Increased emissions
- ECM in failsafe mode
- Problematic starts in winter days
- Poor fuel economy
- Engine misfires
- Faulty EGR valve operation
Causes of P0113
There are numerous faults that could cause P0113. Below are some of the possible causes:
- Defective IAT sensor
- Dirty air filter
- Wiring or connectors issues
- Failure of PCM
How to Fix Code P0113?
There is no specific way to fix the OBD-II code P0113 because of the several possible causes, and it needs distinct solutions. A person with sufficient technical knowledge should try DIY fixes; otherwise, auto repair shops with a trained professional can help you fix the issue.
Common areas that should be inspected:
- Wiring and connector to the Intake Air Temperature Sensor
- Intake Air Temperature Sensor
There is an easy way to test the IAT sensor if you have access to a digital multimeter. Here are the quick steps below:
1. Remove IAT sensor from vehicle.
2. Measure the resistance of the sensor
3. Place sensor in fridge, measure resistance after sensor cools down. Resistance should either increase or decrease depending on sensor design.
4. Remove sensor from fridge, warm up with hair dryer. (Careful not to melt sensor) Resistance should do the opposite as it did when it was cooled. If resistance increased when temperature decreased, it should do the opposite.
5. If resistance did not change, there is an internal fault in the sensor, and it needs replaced.
Is it safe to drive with P0113?
It is safe to drive your vehicle with P0113 present. The PCM has the ability to revert to what is called base map programming.
For example, if the IAT sensor failed the PCM will use all the other inputs to the engine to calculate a roughly accurate estimate of what the IAT sensor should read.
This allows you to drive the vehicle, generally without even noticing a drivability issue. Because of this there will be no harm in driving the vehicle while this code is present.
Fixing Cost of Code P0113?
The cost of fixing P0113 varies according to the make and model of your vehicle. The labor and equipment cost also varies because P0113 can be due to various reasons. The estimated fixing costs associated with this code according to the issues are:
- IAT sensor replacement- $120-$350
- Wiring or connectors issues- $100-$500
- Air filtration- $65-$160
- PCM replacement- $300-$1500
Depending on the reason code P0113 set it can get expensive to repair this issue. Thankfully most of the issues are caused by IAT sensor and wiring issues. So do not be afraid to tackle this issue, especially equipped with the proper diagnostic tools and service information.
