P0104
Mass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A Circuit Intermittent
Fuel & air metering
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P0104 means the signal from the mass air flow (MAF) sensor is cutting out or jumping around intermittently rather than reading steadily. The MAF tells the ECM how much air is entering the engine so it can meter fuel. An intermittent signal makes the fuel mixture swing, so the engine may hesitate, surge, or stall — usually restarting fine afterward.
High
Can I keep driving? You can usually keep driving, but expect intermittent stalling, hesitation, or surging; the fault comes and goes, so have it fixed before it strands you.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on, sometimes flickering on and off
- Intermittent hesitation, surging, or rough idle
- Occasional stalling that clears on restart
- Reduced power or poor fuel economy at times
Common causes
Most likely first
- Loose, corroded, or intermittent MAF connector — a very common causeLikely
- Chafed or broken wiring in the MAF circuitCommon
- Contaminated or failing MAF sensor elementCommon
- Loose intake ducting or air leaks disturbing the readingLess often
- Rarely, an ECM faultLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Inspect the MAF connector and wiring, wiggling them with the engine running to catch the intermittent fault.
- Clean the MAF sensor element with dedicated MAF cleaner (never touch it).
- Check the intake ducting between the MAF and throttle for loose clamps or cracks.
- Repair damaged wiring or reseat/replace the connector.
- If the signal still drops out, replace the MAF sensor; clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0104?+
Usually, but the intermittent stalling and hesitation can be unsafe in traffic. It's fine for short trips, but get it repaired soon.
Can I just clear P0104?+
The code may clear, but because the fault is intermittent it returns once the loose connection or sensor acts up again.
Related codes
Often seen with P0104
Read & clear P0104 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.
✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX