P007D
PowertrainCharge Air Cooler Temperature Sensor Circuit High Bank 1
The charge air cooler temperature sensor tells the ECU how hot the air is after it's been through the intercooler and before it goes into the engine. The ECU uses that figure to fine-tune fuelling and boost on a turbocharged engine. P007D means the signal voltage from that sensor on bank 1 has gone too high, which almost always points at an electrical problem rather than the sensor element itself being out of range. A high reading like this usually means the circuit has gone open somewhere, so the ECU is seeing battery voltage where it expects a sensible signal.
ⓘ Information only. This page provides general educational information about fault code P007D. We do not assess the urgency or safety implications of any specific fault. That requires in-person diagnosis by a qualified mechanic. Full terms.
Recommended next steps
Whether a fault is urgent, drivable, or routine depends entirely on the cause on a specific vehicle, and that can only be determined by a qualified mechanic with diagnostic equipment. If a warning light is illuminated, the most reliable next step is professional diagnosis.
What does P007D mean?
P007D is a Powertrain (engine, transmission, fuel system) fault code. It indicates: Charge Air Cooler Temperature Sensor Circuit High Bank 1.
This is a standardised OBD-II code. The technical definition is the same regardless of the make or model of vehicle, although specific causes and symptoms can vary between vehicles.
Symptoms commonly associated with this code
Symptoms that drivers often report alongside this code. Not all may apply to every case:
- • Engine warning light on, sometimes with no obvious change in how the car drives
- • Loss of power or sluggish acceleration, especially when you ask for boost on a motorway slip road
- • Car drops into limp mode with the throttle feeling flat and capped
- • Slightly worse fuel economy on a longer run
- • Occasional hesitation or rough running when the ECU is working off a bad air temp figure
Possible causes
Causes commonly associated with P007D, listed in approximate order of typical investigation. The actual cause on a specific vehicle can only be confirmed by professional diagnosis.
- 1. Broken or chafed wiring in the sensor circuit, the usual reason for a 'high' reading because an open circuit pushes the voltage up. Check where the loom runs near the intercooler pipework first
- 2. Corroded or loose connector at the sensor, common on diesels where the plug sits in the path of road muck and heat
- 3. Faulty charge air cooler temp sensor, the element fails open and the ECU reads it as high
- 4. Poor earth at the sensor or a bad earth point on the engine, which mimics an open circuit
- 5. Connector pins pushed back or spread so they're not making proper contact
- 6. ECU fault, which is rare and worth suspecting only after everything upstream checks out clean
How mechanics typically diagnose
A typical diagnostic sequence used by mechanics, provided here for educational reference only. Diagnostic work should be performed by a qualified mechanic with the appropriate tools and training.
- 1. Read the live data for charge air cooler temperature with the engine cold. A circuit reading the maximum value, often something silly like -40C or way over 130C, confirms the sensor is electrically out of touch rather than just a bit off
- 2. Unplug the sensor connector and look at it properly. Green or white corrosion on the pins, a cracked connector body, or wiring rubbed bare against the intercooler pipe will show up here and is the most common find
- 3. Back-probe the connector with the ignition on and check you've got the 5-volt reference. No reference means the fault is in the feed side or the ECU, not the sensor
- 4. Measure the sensor's resistance across its terminals and watch it change as it warms in your hand. A good NTC sensor drops in resistance as temperature rises. No change, or an open reading, condemns the sensor
- 5. Check continuity from the sensor signal pin back to the ECU pin, and do the same on the earth side. A break here is what's driving the high voltage, and finding it stops you replacing a perfectly good sensor
Common questions about P007D
Will my car fail the MOT with a P007D stored? +
The code on its own won't fail you, but if the engine warning light is glowing on the dash when the tester looks, that's an MOT fail under the MIL check. There's no separate boost or intercooler test in an MOT, so it comes down to whether the light is on. Fix the actual fault, clear the code, and let it run a few drive cycles to make sure the light stays off before you book in.
What's this likely to cost to sort at a garage? +
If it turns out to be the sensor, you're usually looking at £30 to £90 for the part plus around an hour's labour, so call it £80 to £180 at an independent and more like £200 to £350 at a main dealer. A wiring or connector repair is harder to price because it's about how long the fault takes to find, figure on an hour or two of diagnostic time on top. Most P007D jobs are at the cheaper end once the sensor or a corroded plug is identified.
How do I tell whether it's the sensor or the wiring on my own car? +
Unplug the sensor and measure its resistance, then warm the tip in your hand. If the resistance moves smoothly the sensor is fine and your problem is in the loom or connector. If you've got the 5-volt reference at the plug but no sensible signal getting back to the ECU, you've got a broken signal wire or a bad earth. A sensor that reads open at the terminals and won't change with heat is the faulty part itself.
Information only, not professional advice
The information on this page is provided for general guidance and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for diagnosis or repair advice from a qualified mechanic. Always verify any fault before paying for repairs. carfaultcodes.co.uk accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information. Full terms →