P0181 Fuel temperature sensor: reading or operation not right ("A")
P0181 means: Fuel temperature sensor: reading or operation not right ("A"). A temperature sensor tells the computer the temperature of the air, coolant, fuel or oil. Drive gently and have the car checked soon. The most common repair costs about €80–160 in Estonia, depending on make and model.
What it means
A temperature sensor tells the computer the temperature of the air, coolant, fuel or oil. With a wrong reading the computer gets the mixture and the fan wrong. There is a signal, but the reading or operation isn't plausible. The cause may be the part itself or a real mechanical fault.
What you may notice
- Engine light on
- Hard cold starts
- The fan may run all the time
- Higher fuel consumption
What could be wrong
- 1Faulty sensor · Sensor replacement €80–160
- 2Corroded or loose connector · Wiring or connector repair €45–90
- 3Broken or chafed wire · Wiring or connector repair €45–90
- 4Engine computer fault (rare) · Control unit check and software €150–300
Repair difficulty: Easy
What you can check yourself
Check the sensor connector and make sure it is clipped in. On a cold engine, compare the reading with the outside temperature. You can do the simpler checks yourself.
How we fix it
- We read the sensor on the diagnostic tool and compare it with other sensors
- We check the connector, supply and ground
- We repair the wiring or replace the sensor
Standard SAE description: Fuel Temperature Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance