P0104: Air flow sensor circuit intermittent
The air flow sensor signal drops out or jumps around intermittently. It is almost always a loose connector or a wire with a poor contact.
| Code | P0104 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P01xx, Air and fuel metering |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P0104 means
The ECU has seen the air flow sensor signal come and go, or jump in ways that cannot be real. Intermittent faults are usually contact problems: something that moves with vibration, heat or damp.
Most common causes
- Loose sensor connector or spread pins
- Corrosion or moisture inside the connector
- A wire broken inside its insulation making contact on and off, often near the connector
- Loose earth on the engine or body
- The sensor itself with an intermittent internal fault
Symptoms
- Jerking or momentary loss of power
- Idle speed rising and falling
- Engine warning light coming and going
- Occasional stalling
Can you drive with P0104?
With care You can drive, but sudden power cuts could catch you out when overtaking or joining a main road. Have it checked soon.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
With the engine idling and air flow shown in live data, gently wiggle the sensor connector and wiring. If the reading jumps as you move them, you have found the poor contact.
How to read and clear P0104 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 P0104 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
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 an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0100 Mass or volume air flow sensor circuit fault
- P0101 Air flow sensor range or performance problem
- P0102 Air flow sensor circuit low input
- P0103 Air flow sensor circuit high input
- P0105 Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor circuit fault
- P0106 Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor range or performance
- P0107 Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor circuit low
- P0108 Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor circuit high
- P0109 Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor circuit intermittent
- P0110 Intake air temperature sensor circuit fault
- P0111 Intake air temperature sensor range or performance
- P0112 Intake air temperature sensor circuit low
What does code P0104 mean?
The ECU has seen the air flow sensor signal come and go, or jump in ways that cannot be real. Intermittent faults are usually contact problems: something that moves with vibration, heat or damp.
Can you drive with P0104?
You can drive, but sudden power cuts could catch you out when overtaking or joining a main road. Have it checked soon.
How do you clear P0104?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0104 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
