P00EC: Intake Air Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit Intermittent/Erratic Bank 1

Intake air temperature sensor 3 is a third air temperature sensor in the intake path. On documented turbocharged engines with a humidity sensor it is the manifold temperature sensor behind the charge air cooler, an NTC thermistor read directly by the engine control module and used for cylinder filling and ignition timing. The numbering of intake air temperature sensors differs between manufacturers. P00EC: The signal jumps faster than a real temperature can change, which typically points to a loose contact.

Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. Inline engines only have this bank.

Symptoms

• Check engine light on
• Usually no noticeable symptoms; substitute value used
• Slightly reduced power through knock protection possible

Most likely causes

• Loose contact or wire broken by engine movement
• Moisture in the connector
• Interference or control module fault

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

1. With the engine cold, compare the reading with the outside temperature
2. Gently move the wiring with the engine running and watch whether the reading changes.
3. Check the connector
4. Measure the sensor's resistance against the manufacturer's specification
5. Check power and ground before replacing it

Good to know

• Repair difficulty: easy
• It affects emissions.

What each character of P00EC means

• P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
• 0: Generic code: same on every make
• 0: Subsystem depends on the code range
• EC: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P00EC?

Yes, you can normally keep driving and take it to a repair shop when convenient.

What causes code P00EC?

The most common causes are: loose contact or wire broken by engine movement; moisture in the connector; interference or control module fault.

Related codes

• P00E8Intake Air Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit Bank 1
• P00E9Intake Air Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit Range/Performance Bank 1
• P00EAIntake Air Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit Low Bank 1
• P00EBIntake Air Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit High Bank 1
• P00F1Intake Air Temperature Sensor 3 Circuit Intermittent/Erratic Bank 2
• P0097Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Low Bank 1

Sources

• law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG04 Engine Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 19OBDG03A Diagnostics

Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.