What P0113 means
The intake air temperature sensor tells the computer how dense the incoming air is. P0113 means its circuit reads impossibly high resistance — the electrical signature of a disconnected or broken sensor, which the computer interprets as absurdly hot intake air.
What you’ll notice
- Check engine light
- Often no drivability change at all
- Sometimes slightly worse economy or hesitation on cold mornings
Likely causes and repair cost
Broad US independent-shop bands, parts and labour.
Can you drive with P0113?
Yes — the computer substitutes a default temperature and the engine runs close to normally. Fix at your convenience, before it costs you an emissions test.
The misdiagnosis to avoid
Overpaying when the IAT is integrated into the MAF sensor: on many engines it's one combined part, and a shop may quote the full MAF for what began as a $5 connector repair. Ask whether your IAT is standalone or integrated, and whether the wiring was tested first.
Describe what it’s doing in your own words and the symptom checker gives you a safe-to-drive verdict, ranked causes with costs, and notes to take to the shop — free, no sign-up.
Read the code yourself
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
ANCEL AD310 Classic OBD2 Scanner
The glovebox tool. Wired, no app, no pairing, no batteries — plug it in and it reads and clears engine codes. This is the one that saves you a diagnostic fee the first time the check engine light comes on. Its limits are honest: engine codes only, no ABS or airbag, no live graphing.
Best for: Anyone who just wants to know what the light means
Check price on AmazonBlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner
Pairs with your phone and reads far more than engine codes — ABS, airbag, transmission and HVAC on most vehicles — plus live data. The real feature is the repair reports, which map a code to the fixes that most often resolved it on your specific year, make, model and engine. No subscription.
Best for: Owners keeping a car past warranty, or checking used cars
Check price on AmazonOBDLink MX+ Bluetooth OBD2 Adapter
The enthusiast pick. Faster live data than most dongles and it works with a wide range of third-party apps, which matters if you want custom dashboards or logging. Well regarded for connection stability and for not draining the battery when left plugged in.
Best for: People who want live data and app flexibility
Check price on AmazonQuestions people ask
Why did this appear right after an air filter change?
Because the sensor or its connector lives in the intake tract that just got handled — the connector gets tugged loose or the clip breaks. A P0113 within days of filter service is a reseat-the-plug situation more often than a failure.
Is this related to hard cold starts?
It can be — the temperature reading shapes cold-start fuelling, and a defaulted value tuned for moderate weather starts poorly in real cold. If cold-morning starting worsened alongside the code, fixing this cheap sensor is likely your cure.