Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit A
What it means
P0070 means the computer sees a circuit fault in the ambient (outside) air temperature sensor — usually an open, short, or wiring problem. This sensor reads the temperature of the air around the vehicle and mostly feeds the dashboard display and automatic climate control, with only minor input to engine trims. The engine runs normally, so the practical effect is an unreliable temperature reading rather than a drivability problem.
Can I keep driving? Yes — the engine runs fine; this sensor mainly feeds the outside-temperature display and minor trims, so the impact on driving is small.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Inaccurate or stuck outside-air temperature on the dash display
- Automatic climate control or defrost behaving oddly
Common causes
Most likely first
- Faulty ambient air temperature sensor (often mounted behind the front grille or bumper)Likely
- Damaged wiring or connector at the sensor (exposed to road debris and moisture)Common
- Open or short in the sensor circuitCommon
- Failed instrument cluster or ECM (rare)Less often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Confirm the code and locate the sensor (commonly behind the grille or in a mirror).
- Inspect the connector and wiring for corrosion, damage, or road-debris impact.
- Compare the sensor's reading with the actual temperature using a scan tool.
- Test sensor resistance against its temperature spec and replace if out of range.
- Repair wiring and clear the code.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0070?+
Can I just clear P0070?+
Related codes
Often seen with P0070
Read & clear P0070 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.