The “Check Engine Light” is on and your scan tool throws the P0106 code?
Let’s take a quick look at your situation!
- P0106 Definition: Manifold Air Pressure (MAP) Barometric Pressure Sensor Electric Circuit Output Range/Performance Problem
- Code Type: Generic – P0106 indicates the same problem whether you’re having a Chevy, Hyundai, or VW, etc.
- Can I keep driving with P0106? You can, but you shouldn’t. Doing so may further damage your engine and the emission system
- Easy to fix? DIY to advanced levels
- Cost: $130 – $160 (common)
To help you save time and money, let’s dive into the 5 causes that might trigger P0106 and their solutions.
Click to jump right into it!
Table of Contents
What Does The P0106 Code Mean?
P0106 is set when there is an issue with the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor not sending the correct output voltage. This can also pop up if your engine is way too old.
When the car is idling, a good MAP sensor’s output voltage should be around 1 to 1.5v. In case you floor the car, this number increases up to 4.5v.
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) will collect this data, along with others, to adjust the air-fuel ratio. If the MAP voltage changes rapidly while the engine speed is stable, P0106 appears.
Incorrect MAP voltage will mess up your air-fuel ratio, causing either rich or lean conditions, and other annoying symptoms.
There are several causes that can lead to P0106. Each has its own solution.
To identify exactly which is the right fix for your car, read the table below.
P0106 Causes Identification: Quick View
P0106 can appear alone or with other related codes. This table will help you navigate the root causes as well as the solutions for them.
| Codes Combination | Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Only P0106 | Faulty MAP sensor (most common) MAP wiring harness issues (less common) Bad ECU (rare) | Clean or replace the MAP sensor Find any chafing or rub-through in the MAP wiring harness and fix them Replace the ECU (very expensive) |
| P0106 + P0171/P0174 | Vacuum leak | Smoke test & seal the vacuum leak |
| P0106 + Misfire codes (P0300-P0312) or + a high mileage engine | Engine misfires (can be serious as the engine is damaged from the inside) | Have your car towed to a mechanic shop for further inspection |
| P0106 + P0107/P0108 | MAP wiring harness issues (most common) Faulty MAP sensor (less common) | Find any chafing or rub-through in the MAP wiring harness and fix them Clean or replace the MAP sensor |
Note: The causes for each code combination are the most common ones. There can be some uncommon issues hidden under those codes
P0106: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Fix
Did you find your problem? To further ensure that you actually find the right one, you need to match your car’s symptoms with the cause.
If you don’t want to be a part changer, read on and understand your problem from the inside!
Cause #1: Vacuum leak
The hissing sound is a very obvious sign of this cause. When you see the codes P0106 and P0171/P0174 at the same time, a leak in your air intake system is the problem. You can also look for other symptoms caused by vacuum leak:
- Rough idle
- Power loss
- Engine stalling
- Long term fuel trim (ltft) >10% (check it in the “live data” function)
Vacuum leak often results from a crack in the intake hose or in one of the vacuum lines.
How can you find the leak?
The simplest method is to start your engine and spray water on vacuum hoses. If you see the water gets sucked in the hose, that’s the leak.
However, using this method may not detect all the cracks in the system. In that case, a smoke test is a good option.
Here’s how you can do it:
After finding the vacuum leak, replace the damaged hoses. This process is very straightforward and inexpensive.
Cause #2: Wiring harness issues
A wiring issue may cause the MAP sensor to send the wrong voltage signal to the PCM.
Usually, when you see the codes P0106 and P0107/P0108 at the same time, this is very likely to be the problem. In this case, you need to check these possibilities:
- The reference, ground, or signal wire of the MAP sensor is open
- The reference, ground, or signal wire of the MAP sensor shorts
- Ground issue (because of corrosion)
Cause #3: Faulty MAP sensor
As mentioned above, a faulty MAP sensor can lead to an incorrect air-fuel ratio. This can cause:
- Check engine light.
- Rich condition: too much fuel, not enough air, high fuel consumption.
- Lean condition: too much air, not enough fuel, power loss, poor idling.
The MAP sensor itself is about $90, so it’s worth testing if the MAP sensor is the root problem or not. To do this, follow these steps:
- First, check if the vacuum hose attached to the MAP sensor has a crack
- Make sure there is no wiring harness issue
- Go to the “live data” function in your scan tool, look for the MAP(inHg) value. When your key is on and the engine isn’t running, this value should equal the barometric pressure (which is around 28 to 31, depending on your location.) When the engine starts running, this number should instantly drop to 3 to 5 inHg, and increase when the engine RPM rises.
How a good MAP sensor should behave
B: When the car is cruising, the engine RPM decrease, so does the MAP value
Assuming all the wring of the sensor is good, if it doesn’t behave as described above, replacing the MAP sensor will fix the code P0106.
Here’s how you can do it.
Cause #4: Too old engine
If you have a high mileage car and you’re getting the code P0106 along with other misfire codes (P0300-P0312), the problem is your engine is just too old.
In this case, have your car towed to the nearest mechanic shop. They will tear the engine apart to examine the situation.
Bad news, it’s not cheap!
Best-case scenario, the head gasket is cracked, or the valves are burnt. That’s already $1000 minimum.
Worst-case scenario, the engine is cracked or warped, and you’re better off replacing the new one.
Cause #5: Bad ECU
Faulty ECU is a rare condition causing P0106. After eliminating all the possibilities, this should be your last conclusion.
Replacing the ECU is the only option in this situation.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix The Code P0106?
Fixing P0106 can be just a few bucks or over $2000, depending on the cause.
In most cases, a new MAP sensor should do the trick, and it costs around $20 – $90.
If there’s a vacuum leak, the repair cost usually is just a few bucks if you do it by yourself. The hardest part is to find the leak, not replace the hose.
There may be some situations where the vacuum leak happens at critical places. In those cases, the repair process is more complicated and expensive.
The estimated repair cost of P0106
| Solution | Cost |
|---|---|
| Replace MAP sensor | DIY: $20 and $90 Auto shop: $130 – $160 |
| Replace MAP circuit | DIY: a few bucks Auto shop: $80 – $90 |
| Fix the vacuum leak | DIY: $10 – $200 Auto shop: $150 – $1000 |
| Replace ECU | DIY: not recommend Auto shop: $1000 – $3000 |
Note: The data in this table is collected in May 2022. The actual price depends on many factors, such as your car’s make and year, mechanic’s rate, etc.
You ask, I answer
I hope this article will help you to fix the P0106 code yourself and save some money
Any other questions about P0106? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, I’ll answer them all.
If you have had the code and fixed it before, share your story and you’ll help lots of folks having this problem.
See ya!
Read more: The 9 Best OBD2 Scanners for 2022: The Only Review You Need
