P0111: Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance
Quick Answer
Safe to drive (short-term)
P0111 means the intake air temperature signal is present but does not make sense. Unlike P0112 and P0113, which are plain wiring and voltage faults, P0111 is a plausibility check: the computer compares the reading with the coolant temperature and with how the air should behave as the engine runs, and flags a value that is stuck, too hot or too far from the others. A worn sensor, a poor connector or a sensor sitting in heat-soaked air are the usual causes. Repair typically costs 25 to 100 EUR for the sensor, or up to about 380 EUR where it is built into the airflow sensor.
- Severity
- Low · Emissions
- Estimated repair cost
- From €15 to €380+, varies by vehicle
Scan your own car in about 60 seconds: see whether P0111 is really what it has, how urgent it is, and what the fix should cost. Free on iPhone and Android with an ELM327 adapter (Bluetooth LE on iPhone).
Get Skanyx freeWhat does P0111 mean?
P0111 is a emissions-related diagnostic trouble code classified as low severity.
What are the symptoms of P0111?
- Check engine light on, often with no other change
- Slightly rougher idle or longer cranking on cold mornings
- Small rise in fuel use
- Intake air temperature on a scan tool that stays fixed or is far from coolant temperature after the car has stood overnight
- Fuel use or idle that changes with air temperature less smoothly than before, because the computer relies on a doubtful reading
What causes P0111?
Aged intake air temperature sensor reading slowly or sticking at one value
: high
Corroded or loose connector adding resistance to the signal
: medium
Sensor integrated in the mass airflow sensor failing inside the combined unit
: medium
Heat soak from the engine bay or a poorly placed sensor giving a high reading after a hot stop
: low
Chafed wiring or a poor ground in the sensor circuit
: low
Another temperature sensor (such as the coolant sensor) reading wrongly, so the comparison fails
: low
Is it safe to drive with P0111?
Generally yes, for short-term driving. Generally safe to drive. The sensor is still sending a signal, so the engine runs, but the computer no longer trusts it and may use a fixed air temperature instead. Expect at most a slightly rougher cold start and a little more fuel use. Have it checked within a few weeks, because the light hides new faults.
How do you diagnose P0111?
- Let the car stand overnight, then read intake air, coolant and ambient temperature with a scan tool before starting. After a full cold soak all three should agree within a few degrees. A large gap shows which sensor is wrong
- If the intake air value sits at a fixed number that never moves as the engine warms and air flows, the sensor or its connector is the likely fault
- Drive for a few minutes and watch the value. Intake air temperature should rise slightly when stopped in traffic and fall again when moving. A reading that never changes fails the plausibility check
- Find the sensor in the intake duct, or inside the airflow sensor housing, and inspect the plug for corrosion, bent pins and loose fit
- Check the heat soak case: if the code only appears after a hot restart, look at whether the sensor sits close to the manifold or a hot hose
- Compare the coolant temperature sensor reading with a thermometer on the thermostat housing. If it is wrong, fix that first, since this code compares against it
- Replace the sensor or combined unit only after the plug and wiring check out, then clear the code and drive a full warm-up cycle
How much does P0111 cost to fix?
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean and reseat sensor connector | €0–€5 | €15–€40 | €15–€45 | Easy |
| Replace intake air temperature sensor | €10–€50 | €15–€50 | €25–€100 | Easy |
| Replace combined airflow and air temperature sensor | €40–€300 | €30–€80 | €70–€380 | Moderate |
| Repair sensor wiring | €5–€25 | €40–€120 | €45–€145 | Moderate |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
P0111 on specific vehicles
P0111 on Saab
Saab 9-3 (second generation)
Related diagnostic codes
Common questions about P0111
- What does P0111 mean?
- P0111 means the engine computer found the intake air temperature sensor signal implausible. The signal is not missing or shorted, it just does not fit with other data such as coolant temperature or the expected change as air flows through the intake.
- What is the difference between P0111 and P0113?
- P0113 is a circuit fault: the voltage is too high, usually from an open wire or unplugged sensor. P0111 is a range or performance fault: the signal looks valid electrically but the value is wrong, stuck or far from coolant temperature. Sensors that are ageing tend to set P0111 first.
- How does the computer decide the reading is wrong?
- It depends on the make. Saab's service page for the 2009 9-3 lists three tests: an intake air reading above 100 C for more than 5 seconds, a gap between intake air and coolant temperature that is too large, and a value that has not changed by more than 2.3 C over the monitoring period. Other makers use similar comparisons with their own limits.
- Can I drive with P0111?
- Yes. The computer substitutes a fixed air temperature, which is why the engine keeps running. Cold starts can feel a little less smooth and fuel use can creep up. Repair it within a few weeks.
- Where is the sensor?
- In the intake duct between the air filter box and throttle body, or built into the airflow sensor or the intake manifold pressure sensor. On Volkswagen Group cars the diagnostic software calls it G42. Check the parts catalogue for your engine before ordering, because a built-in sensor means buying the whole unit.
- How much does it cost to fix P0111?
- A new intake air temperature sensor costs about 10 to 50 EUR, plus 15 to 50 EUR labour. If it is built into the airflow sensor the whole unit is replaced, which costs about 70 to 380 EUR fitted. A connector clean is nearly free.
Read our detailed guides
Sources
- saabwisonline.com saabwisonline.com/9-3-9440/2009/dtcs/me9/p0111-00
- en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_9-3