Number P0113: Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit High Bank 1
Intake air temperature sensor 1 is the first air temperature sensor in the intake path; depending on the vehicle it is built into the mass air flow sensor, mounted near the air filter or, on some naturally aspirated GM engines, fitted in the intake manifold. Most versions are NTC thermistors in a 5
Can you drive with P0113?
Severity: Fix promptly — drivability fault. Short trips at moderate speed only. If the car has entered limp mode (won't rev, stuck in one gear), have it towed rather than forcing it.
If you ignore it: Limp-mode faults tend to strand you, and several of them (misfires, throttle faults) damage other parts while you wait.
This is the #39 most common code in our top-150 library, in the fuel trim & air metering family (Powertrain system). Severity is Number Nest's editorial triage — if the light is flashing or the car feels unsafe, stop driving it whatever any page says.
What P0113 means
Intake air temperature sensor 1 is the first air temperature sensor in the intake path; depending on the vehicle it is built into the mass air flow sensor, mounted near the air filter or, on some naturally aspirated GM engines, fitted in the intake manifold. Most versions are NTC thermistors in a 5 V divider: the hotter the air, the lower the signal voltage. P0113 means the signal is above its valid range. With an NTC sensor that is typically an open circuit – connector off, broken wire, open sensor or missing ground – or a short to a voltage source, and the module would read an extremely cold value (GM about −60 °C). Documented limits: Ford petrol above 4.96 V for 5 s, Ford diesel above 4.91 V, GM above about 127 kilohms. A classic cause is a sensor left unplugged after an air filter change; one manufacturer bulletin describes broken wires at the connector caused by harness tension. Monitoring is continuous, GM needs two trips.
Systems involved: intake air temperature sensor, intake air temperature sensor wiring, mass air flow sensor.
Causes, ranked by likelihood
| # | Cause | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connector unplugged or loose, or wire broken | most likely |
| 2 | Sensor open internally | most likely |
| 3 | Sensor return (ground) wire open | possible |
| 4 | Signal wire shorted to a voltage source | less common |
| 5 | Engine control module faulty | less common |
Check them in order — the list is ranked so the likely, cheaper causes come before the expensive part.
Symptoms you may notice
- Check engine light on
- Usually hardly noticeable
- Slightly richer mixture and higher consumption possible
- Torque limitation on some systems
Misdiagnosis traps
- An open-circuit code right after air-filter service is usually the connector left unplugged or a pin pushed out — check the last thing touched.
How a good shop confirms it
- Read the sensor value cold: it should match ambient air temperature. −40° readings mean open circuit.
Repair options & costs
| Repair | Shop total (parts + labor) | DIY (parts only) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass air flow (MAF) sensor | $158 – $420 | $120 – $320 (parts only) | 1/5 |
National ranges from Number Nest's cost model (midsize car, independent shop, US-average labor). Published cross-check — Mass air flow (MAF) sensor: CarMD 2026 national average $346.
OBDex repair data for this code rates the job difficulty easy with a typical labor time in the 0.2–1.5 hour range and DIY possible: yes.
Price this repair in your state
Estimated total: — (midsize car, independent shop)
Frequently asked questions
Where is the intake air temperature sensor?
Often built into the MAF sensor housing, sometimes a separate sensor in the intake manifold. The connector you unplugged for filter service is the first suspect.
How much does it cost to fix P0113?
The fix most associated with this code — mass air flow (maf) sensor — runs $158 – $420 at an independent shop for a midsize car in our cost model (parts + labor, US average). The code names a system, not a part, so confirm the cause before spending: the ranked causes above are ordered by likelihood.
Can I drive with P0113?
See the can-you-drive verdict above — it is based on the system involved and the cascading-damage risk, and it is our editorial triage, not a manufacturer instruction. If the light is flashing or the car feels unsafe, stop driving it regardless of any code.
Will P0113 clear itself?
If the fault was a one-off (a loose cap, a cold-start glitch), the light can go out after several clean trips and the code ages into history. A fault that is still present re-sets the code as soon as the car runs that self-test again — monitors run under specific conditions, which is why "it hasn't come back in two days" is not proof of a fix.
Will my car fail inspection with P0113?
In states with OBD-based emissions inspection, yes — an illuminated check-engine light or an incomplete readiness monitor fails the test regardless of what the tailpipe would show. C-codes (ABS) fall under safety inspection instead in states that have one.
What should I check first for P0113?
The first item on the ranked-causes list above — it is ranked likelihood-first for exactly this reason — plus the free checks: recent work in the area (connectors left loose are a classic), fluid levels, and the battery and grounds on electrical codes.
Where this data comes from
Code facts, causes and symptoms come from OBDex — an open dataset of independently authored descriptions of the standardized generic OBD-II codes (CC0 1.0, public domain; github.com/foerbsnavi/OBDex). The SAE J2012 document itself is copyrighted and is not reproduced here. Cost ranges are Number Nest's own US planning model: national parts and labor ranges cross-checked against the CarMD Vehicle Health Index 2026 published averages, with labor adjustable by the BLS OEWS May 2025 state wage index for auto technicians (occupation 49-3023) — a wage index, not a surveyed shop rate. Severity and can-you-drive notes are our editorial triage, not a manufacturer instruction.