Faulty or drifting charge air cooler temperature sensor or intake air temperature sensor; Damaged wiring, corroded terminals or a poor connector at either temperature sensor; Charge air cooler restricted, dirty inside or with poor airflow through it, causing unexpected temperatures; Boost or charge air leak, such as a split hose or loose clamp, upsetting temperature readings; Heat soak or a sensor mounted in a poor position after an incorrect repair, e.g. wrong or misfitted sensor; Fault in the control unit or an outdated calibration, where the manufacturer lists it as a known cause.

P011C

Charge Air Cooler Temperature/Intake Air Temperature Correlation Bank 1.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
1: AreaFuel and air metering
1C: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P011C is the generic SAE J2012 code for Charge Air Cooler Temperature / Intake Air Temperature Correlation, Bank 1. The control unit compares the charge air cooler temperature sensor reading with the intake air temperature sensor reading and sees a difference that is not plausible for the operating conditions. This points to a sensor, wiring or airflow problem on the boost air path, and the exact sensor locations vary by model and engine.

Symptoms

Engine warning light on
Reduced power or the engine running in limp mode
Poor or hesitant acceleration under boost
Higher fuel consumption than normal
Possible boost-related fault codes stored alongside it

Possible causes

Faulty or drifting charge air cooler temperature sensor or intake air temperature sensorlikely
Damaged wiring, corroded terminals or a poor connector at either temperature sensorlikely
Charge air cooler restricted, dirty inside or with poor airflow through it, causing unexpected temperaturespossible
Boost or charge air leak, such as a split hose or loose clamp, upsetting temperature readingspossible
Heat soak or a sensor mounted in a poor position after an incorrect repair, e.g. wrong or misfitted sensorpossible
Fault in the control unit or an outdated calibration, where the manufacturer lists it as a known causerare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes and note the freeze frame data (engine load, coolant temperature, intake air temperature, charge air temperature) for when the fault set
Check for related codes on boost pressure, intake air temperature or the sensor circuits, and deal with those first
Inspect both sensors, their connectors and wiring for damage, oil contamination, corrosion, chafing and bent pins
Compare the live charge air cooler temperature and intake air temperature readings on a cold engine after it has sat overnight; they should be close to each other and to ambient
Drive or road test while logging both temperatures and check they rise and fall in a sensible way under boost and recover as the engine cools
Check the sensor resistance and the circuit voltage, supply and signal wiring against the manufacturer's specification for your model
Inspect the charge air cooler, pipes and hoses for leaks, oil, blockage, damage or debris restricting airflow, and pressure test the intake system
Check for any applicable manufacturer service information or calibration updates for this engine

How to fix

Replace the faulty temperature sensor with the correct specification part
Repair or replace damaged wiring, terminals or connectors, and clean or secure the connections
Repair boost leaks by replacing split hoses, fitting new clamps or sealing connections
Clean or replace a blocked or damaged charge air cooler, and clear any restriction in its airflow
Where an outdated calibration is a known cause for the vehicle, have the control unit software updated by an authorised workshop

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can usually be driven carefully for a short time, but it may run with reduced power and poor economy. Get it checked soon, as an ongoing boost or temperature fault can lead to further problems and the fault may get worse.

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