P0070: Ambient air temperature sensor circuit fault

What P0070 means

The ambient air temperature sensor measures the air outside the car. It feeds the climate control, the dashboard thermometer and, on some cars, engine management. This code means the signal in the circuit is not valid: it is missing, broken or makes no sense.

Most common causes

• Loose or corroded sensor connector, or spread pins
• Broken or chafed sensor wire (it usually sits behind the front bumper, exposed to knocks and water)
• A faulty sensor
• Bumper damage that has hit the sensor or its bracket
• A poor earth or power supply problem in the circuit

Symptoms

• Wrong outside temperature or dashes on the dashboard display
• Automatic climate control does not regulate properly
• Engine warning light on some models

Can you drive with P0070?

Yes, no rush The engine is not usually affected. You can drive normally and fix it when convenient.

How to check it

Check ambient temperature in live data with the car cold: it should be close to the real outside temperature. A fixed extreme reading (very low or very high) points to wiring or the sensor.

How to read and clear P0070 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 P0070 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

• 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)
• P0069 Manifold pressure and barometric pressure do not match
• 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
• P0089 Fuel pressure regulator performance problem
• 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)

P0070 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Alfa Romeo, Dacia, Kia, Nissan, Opel / Vauxhall, Škoda. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.