Code
P00DE
Generic
P — Powertrain
Charge Air Cooler Coolant Temperature Sensor A Circuit
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Open or shorted sensor circuit (broken wire, chafing, pinched harness)
- Corroded, loose or contaminated connector or terminals at the sensor
- Failed charge air cooler coolant temperature sensor (thermistor)
- Poor or missing sensor reference voltage or ground from PCM
- Coolant intrusion into sensor/connector
- PCM or ECU fault (rare)
Symptoms
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) / Check Engine Light illuminated
- Incorrect or no intercooler coolant temperature reading in scan tool
- Possible reduced engine power or limp-home mode if PCM limits boost
- Poor fuel/engine management or compromised emission control strategies
- Occasional intermittent fault code after vibration or moisture exposure
What to check
- Read and record freeze-frame and live data for charge air cooler coolant temp
- Visual inspection of sensor, connector and wiring for corrosion, damage and coolant contamination
- Wiggle test harness while monitoring sensor data for intermittent changes
- Confirm PCM reference voltage and ground(s) at the connector
- Measure sensor resistance with sensor removed and compare to temperature chart
- Measure sensor voltage output with engine cold and warm, compare to expected range
Signal parameters
- Typical sensor type: NTC thermistor (negative temp coefficient)
- Reference voltage: ~5.0 V (system dependent; verify with service manual)
- Expected sensor output voltage: ~0.2–4.8 V depending on temperature (low V = hot, high V = cold for many NTC sensors; verify polarity in vehicle documentation)
- Typical resistance examples (approximate; verify with OEM specs): at 20 °C: ~2.5–3.5 kΩ
- Typical resistance example: at 80 °C: ~250–500 Ω
- Open circuit: very high resistance or OL; short to ground: near 0 Ω
Diagnostic algorithm
- Retrieve freeze-frame and live data with a scan tool. Note sensor reading, related temps and conditions when code set.
- Visually inspect sensor, connector and wiring for corrosion, loose pins, bent terminals, coolant contamination or mechanical damage.
- With ignition on (engine off), backprobe sensor connector: confirm reference voltage from PCM and a good ground. If reference missing, trace to PCM/fuse/relay.
- Start engine and monitor sensor voltage while warming. Compare behavior to ambient temperature; look for stuck or implausible values.
- With sensor disconnected, measure resistance of the sensor across terminals at known coolant temperature. Compare measured resistance to OEM specification chart.
- Perform wiggle test on harness and connector while monitoring data to reveal intermittent opens/shorts.
- Check continuity of wiring between sensor and PCM; check for short to power or ground.
- If wiring and connectors are good but sensor out of spec, replace sensor and retest.
- After repairs, clear codes and perform a warm-up / test drive. Verify code does not return and that live data is plausible.
- If fault persists after sensor and wiring replacement, consider PCM input circuit diagnosis or replacement per manufacturer procedures.
Likely causes
- Damaged wiring between sensor and PCM (open or short to battery/ground)
- Corroded connector on sensor causing high resistance or intermittent contact
- Failed/intermittent sensor element due to coolant contamination or age
- Blown fuse or poor ground affecting sensor supply
- Aftermarket repairs or routing causing connector stress
Fault status
Status
P00DE — Charge Air Cooler Coolant Temperature Sensor A Circuit: sensor voltage/resistance out of range (open/short/intermittent).
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.5 hours
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