Faulty charge air cooler coolant temperature sensor (internal open or short circuit, or drifted readings); Damaged, chafed or corroded wiring to the sensor (open circuit, short to earth or short to voltage); Poor connection at the sensor plug, with corroded, loose or contaminated terminals; Low coolant level or air in the charge air cooler coolant circuit giving implausible readings; Failed or weak charge air cooler coolant pump, so the temperature does not behave as expected; Fault in the engine control unit's sensor supply, reference voltage or earth circuit; Faulty engine control unit.

P00DE

Charge Air Cooler Coolant Temperature Sensor A Circuit.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
0: AreaFuel and air metering, auxiliary emission controls
DE: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P00DE means the engine control unit has detected a fault in the circuit of charge air cooler coolant temperature sensor A. This sensor is used on engines with a liquid-cooled intercooler, which has its own coolant loop. The control unit saw a signal voltage or reading outside the expected range, or one that did not make sense compared with other temperature data. Exact sensor location and the way the fault is judged vary by model and engine.

Symptoms

Engine warning light on
Reduced power or limp mode in some cases
Poor or inconsistent boost response
Higher intake air temperatures or a feeling of heat-soak after hard driving
Cooling fan or intercooler pump running constantly or not as expected
Possible rough running or hesitation under load

Possible causes

Faulty charge air cooler coolant temperature sensor (internal open or short circuit, or drifted readings)likely
Damaged, chafed or corroded wiring to the sensor (open circuit, short to earth or short to voltage)likely
Poor connection at the sensor plug, with corroded, loose or contaminated terminalslikely
Low coolant level or air in the charge air cooler coolant circuit giving implausible readingspossible
Failed or weak charge air cooler coolant pump, so the temperature does not behave as expectedpossible
Fault in the engine control unit's sensor supply, reference voltage or earth circuitrare
Faulty engine control unitrare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and the freeze frame data, and note any related codes for the intercooler pump, intake air temperature or sensor supply voltage.
Check the coolant level in the charge air cooler circuit, which is often separate from the main engine circuit, and look for leaks. Refer to the manufacturer's information for your model.
Inspect the sensor, its wiring and the connector for damage, heat, chafing, corrosion or water ingress.
With a scan tool, view live data for the sensor and compare it with ambient and other temperature readings on a cold engine. It should be plausible and change smoothly as the engine warms.
Unplug the sensor and check the reference voltage and earth at the connector against the manufacturer's wiring diagram.
Test the wiring for continuity and for shorts to earth or voltage between the sensor and the control unit.
Measure the sensor resistance at a known temperature and compare it with the manufacturer's specification.
Check that the charge air cooler pump runs when commanded, using the scan tool's active tests if available.

How to fix

Replace the charge air cooler coolant temperature sensor if it is faulty or out of specification.
Repair or replace damaged wiring, and clean or replace the corroded or loose connector terminals.
Top up the coolant with the correct type, and bleed the charge air cooler circuit following the manufacturer's procedure.
Replace the charge air cooler coolant pump if it is faulty.
Once the repair is confirmed, clear the codes and road test to check the fault does not return. Only consider the control unit after all other causes are ruled out.

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

Short, gentle journeys are usually possible, but the car may have reduced power and the engine may not manage intake temperatures properly. Get it checked soon, and avoid heavy loads or hard acceleration until it is fixed.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.