Fuel temperature sensor A is an NTC thermistor: the hotter the fuel, the lower its resistance and signal voltage. On diesels it sits in the injection pump, rail or return line; on Ford petrol direct-injection engines it is built into the rail pressure sensor, and GM uses digital rail temperature sensors on its direct-injection engines. P0182 means the signal is below its valid range – with an NTC that points to a short to ground or an internally shorted sensor, and the control module would read about 150 °C. Limits: Ford diesel below 0.095 V, Ford petrol below 0.12 V for 5 s, GM diesel below 50 Ω (two trips), GM 6.6 litre below 0.60 V for 5 s, Saab EDC16 below 0.23 V for 0.6 s with a substitute value of 50 °C. Genuinely hot fuel within the valid range is P0168 instead.
Low severity. Can I keep driving?You can normally keep driving. If it affects the fuel level, do not trust the gauge and refuel earlier than usual.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Fuel temperature in scan data implausibly high (about 150 °C)
- Possibly cold-start problems
Most likely causes
- Signal wire shorted to ground (chafing)
- Sensor shorted internally
- Moisture or corrosion in the connector
- Engine control module
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P0182 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 1: Air and fuel
- 82: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0182?
You can normally keep driving. If it affects the fuel level, do not trust the gauge and refuel earlier than usual.
What causes code P0182?
The most common causes are: signal wire shorted to ground (chafing); sensor shorted internally; moisture or corrosion in the connector.
Related codes
- P0183Fuel Temperature Sensor A Circuit High
- P0181Fuel Temperature Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
- P0184Fuel Temperature Sensor A Circuit Intermittent
- P0187Fuel Temperature Sensor B Circuit Low
- P0168Fuel Temperature Too High
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- fordservicecontent.com: obd summary diesel 2023
- fordservicecontent.com: OBD Operations Summary Gasoline 2020 2023
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG04 Engine 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.