P0069: Manifold pressure and barometric pressure do not match

What P0069 means

With the ignition on and the engine not running, pressure inside the intake manifold should equal outside air pressure. The ECU compares the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor with the barometric sensor and stores this code if the gap is too large. On many cars the barometric sensor sits inside the ECU or the MAP sensor itself.

Most common causes

• Cracked, loose or blocked vacuum hose to the MAP sensor
• Loose or corroded MAP sensor connector
• A MAP sensor giving skewed readings
• Soot or carbon build-up in the sensor port on the manifold
• Air leaks in the turbo or intake hoses on turbocharged engines
• The barometric sensor, especially if it is built into the ECU

Symptoms

• Engine warning light on
• Loss of power or sluggish acceleration
• Slightly higher fuel consumption
• Sometimes no noticeable symptoms at all

Can you drive with P0069?

With care You can keep driving, but the ECU may get the fuel mixture wrong and the engine may run below par. Have it looked at soon.

How to check it

With the ignition on and the engine off, compare manifold pressure and barometric pressure in your scanner’s live data: they should read almost the same. The one that is well off is the likely culprit.

How to read and clear P0069 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0069 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

• P0052 Oxygen sensor heater circuit high (bank 2, sensor 1)
• P0056 Oxygen sensor heater circuit fault (bank 2, sensor 2)
• P0057 Oxygen sensor heater circuit low (bank 2, sensor 2)
• P0058 Oxygen sensor heater circuit high (bank 2, sensor 2)
• P0070 Ambient air temperature sensor circuit fault
• P0071 Ambient air temperature sensor range or performance problem
• P0087 Fuel rail or system pressure too low
• P0088 Fuel rail or system pressure too high
• P0010 Camshaft A actuator control: open circuit (bank 1)
• P0011 Camshaft A timing over-advanced (bank 1)
• P0012 Camshaft A timing over-retarded (bank 1)
• P0013 Camshaft B actuator control: open circuit (bank 1)

P0069 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Citroën, Hyundai, Mini, Renault, Seat, Volvo. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.