The Intake Air Temperature sensor is usually mounted in the intake manifold so the tip will be exposed to air entering the engine.

An IAT sensor is an important component that is needed while starting up a vehicle's engine.

A faulty sensor can decrease the life of the engine and reduce the efficiency of fuel consumption.

Functions of an IAT sensor

An intake air temperature sensor is an essential component of an engine, which ensures that the car starts smoothly.

It also looks after the fuel-to-air ratio is maintained at appropriate levels, for effective combustion of the fuel when the engine is cold.

In some cars, it is used to delay the release of the exhaust gas re- circulation valve, and decreases the time taken for the engine to warm up.

What causes a bad IAT sensor

The IAT sensor can be damaged by backfiring of the engine and lose its sensitivity due to long- term use or high temperature.

The sensor can also show faulty readings due to the accumulation of oil and carbon, wear and tear over time, and a poor connection after servicing the air filtering unit.

A shorted electrical connection, proximity to high voltage equipment, and corrosion of electric connectors, can all reduce or even destroy the sensor's ability to detect minute changes in air temperature.

Warning signs of a faulty IAT sensor

The first warning sign is the occurrence of rough idling when an engine is cold.

There may be also some knocking sound from the engine while driving at higher speed.

The car engine starts to stall at regular intervals or while accelerating.

Also check engine signal on the dashboard lights up with the error code for a malfunctioning sensor

Testing an IAT circuit malfunction

It is important to check out the various warning signs and conduct tests to identify a malfunctioning air temperature sensor.

Disconnect the MAF connector and switch the multimeter to Volt Direct Current mode while connecting the red multimeter lead to wire B and the black lead to wire A.

With your engine running, the multimeter should show a reading of volts and if this does not happen, the IAT circuit is malfunctioning.