P0A34: Drive Motor B Temperature Sensor Circuit Intermittent

P0A34 covers a motor B temperature signal that drops out or jumps for short moments instead of failing permanently. A winding temperature cannot change by tens of degrees within milliseconds, so such steps point to a loose contact, a chafed wire or a cracked solder joint. No manufacturer documents P0A34 publicly; GM and Mitsubishi only list the permanent faults P0A32 and P0A33 for this sensor, with debounce times of a few hundred milliseconds to seconds that a brief dropout may not meet. CARB 1968.2 requires circuit monitoring of emission-relevant hybrid components. The fault often comes and goes with vibration or heat, and the hybrid system may limit electric drive while it is active.

Symptoms

• Hybrid warning that appears and clears on its own
• Motor B temperature jumps in live data
• Occasional loss of electric drive power

Most likely causes

• Loose or fretting terminal in the sensor connector
• Wire insulation chafed through at a moving harness section
• Cracked joint at the thermistor leads inside the motor

What to check, in order

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

1. Read the codes with a hybrid-compatible scanner and write down the freeze frame data
2. Gently move the wiring with the engine running and watch whether the reading changes.
3. Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
4. Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
5. Leave any high-voltage measurements to a specialized repair shop

Good to know

• It can trigger limp mode.
• It affects emissions.

What each character of P0A34 means

• P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
• 0: Generic code: same on every make
• A: Hybrid or air and fuel
• 34: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0A34?

If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

What causes code P0A34?

The most common causes are: loose or fretting terminal in the sensor connector; wire insulation chafed through at a moving harness section; cracked joint at the thermistor leads inside the motor.

Related codes

• P0A30Drive Motor B Temperature Sensor Circuit
• P0A32Drive Motor B Temperature Sensor Circuit Low
• P0A33Drive Motor B Temperature Sensor Circuit High
• P0A31Drive Motor B Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
• P0A2EDrive Motor A Temperature Sensor A Circuit Intermittent

Sources

• law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 13OBDG06 Hybrid Diagnostics
• mitsubishitechinfo.com: N503240980000700USA

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.