P0073 Ambient air temperature sensor circuit high
What P0073 means
The ambient temperature sensor sits behind the front bumper or grille and reports outside temperature. P0073 means its signal voltage is above the normal range, which usually indicates an open circuit and reads as an extremely low temperature. The display and climate control are affected, but the engine is not harmed.
P0073 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- Low
- Typical repair cost
- 30–200 €
- Workshop time
- 0.3–1 h
- Repair difficulty
- Easy
- DIY possible
- Yes
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- No
- Limp mode possible
- No
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Outside temperature shows very low or dashes
- Climate control behaving oddly
- Check engine light on
- False ice warnings
Common causes
- Disconnected or damaged sensor connector
- Broken wire in the sensor circuit
- Failed ambient temperature sensor
- Damage after a front-end impact or bumper repair
- Fault in the module reading the sensor
Can I keep driving with P0073?
Yes, you can drive. Have it fixed within one or two weeks.
What to check first
- Check the sensor is connected and undamaged behind the bumper or grille
- Inspect the wiring for breaks
- Measure sensor resistance and compare with specification
- Replace the sensor if open circuit
Related codes
- P0072 Ambient air temperature sensor circuit low
- P0071 Ambient air temperature sensor range/performance
- P0087 Fuel rail/system pressure too low (bank 1)
- P0088 Fuel rail pressure too high (bank 1)
- P0089 Fuel pressure regulator 1 performance
- P008A Low-pressure fuel system pressure too low
- P0093 Fuel system leak detected - large leak
- P0045 Turbocharger/supercharger boost control A circuit/open
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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