P010B: Mass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit Range/Performance

Sensor B is a second mass air flow sensor in a second intake path, found on engines with two air filter boxes – for example the Nissan VR30DDTT twin-turbo V6 (where sensor B belongs to bank 2) or GM's 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6. P010B is the plausibility fault of sensor B: the signal is electrically valid but does not fit. GM checks it like sensor A against a model built from the other sensors (manifold pressure, boost, throttle, sensor A) and fails it above 20 g/s deviation, with two trips. For the VR30DDTT Nissan names a loose or leaking left-hand intake pipe as the main cause and warns against touching or dismantling the sensor. Other causes match P0101: a soiled element, a clogged filter on that side or a boost leak.

Symptoms

• Check engine light on
• Lack of power, hesitation
• Rough idle
• Bank 2 mixture codes (P0174) possible

Most likely causes

• Intake pipe on the sensor B side leaking or not seated
• Sensor B element contaminated (oil, dust)
• Air filter on that side clogged or wrongly fitted
• Boost leak on that bank, or sensor/connector problem

What to check, in order

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

1. Check the air filter and hoses
2. Compare the reading with other engine data while varying the engine speed.
3. Inspect the connector
4. Compare the airflow in live data at idle and while revving
5. Clean the sensor only with a dedicated cleaner
6. Replace the mass air flow sensor if the reading does not follow engine speed

Good to know

• Repair difficulty: easy
• It can trigger limp mode.
• It affects emissions.

What each character of P010B means

• P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
• 0: Generic code: same on every make
• 1: Air and fuel
• 0B: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P010B?

You can drive in moderation. If the engine goes into limp mode, go to a repair shop without passing other vehicles or demanding power.

What causes code P010B?

The most common causes are: intake pipe on the sensor B side leaking or not seated; sensor B element contaminated (oil, dust); air filter on that side clogged or wrongly fitted.

Related codes

• P0101Mass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
• P010AMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit
• P010CMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit Low
• P010DMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit High
• P010FMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A/B Correlation
• P0174System Too Lean Bank 2

Sources

• law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG03A Engine Diagnostics
• static.nhtsa.gov: MC 10231527 0001

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.