P0542 – Intake air heater A -circuit high

By Contact Me)
Last Updated 2016-08-30
Automobile Repair Shop Owner
Code | Fault Location | Probable Cause |
---|---|---|
P0542 | Intake air heater A -circuit high (Buy Part On Amazon) | Wiring short to positive, intake air heater |
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What Does Code P0542 Mean?
OBD II fault code P0542 is defined as “Intake Air Heater "A" Circuit High”, and is set when the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) detects a high input voltage from, or in the intake air heater circuit. Variations in the input circuit voltage that fall outside of a predetermined range will set a trouble code, and may trigger a warning light. Note that not all applications will set a code and trigger a warning light on the first failure; some applications require multiple fault cycles to occur before setting a code, and/or triggering a warning light. Typical intake air heating systems consist of a heating element, a blower to move the heated air into the engine, and various electrical components that include wiring, connectors, a temperature sensor, and a relay. The function of the intake air heater is to warm up the intake air to improve combustion at low temperatures. While most applications use a coiled element that is placed directly in the intake air’s flow path, others use a variety of designs that increase the elements’ surface area, thereby making the element more efficient. Regardless of the actual design of the element though, the purpose of the element is the same in all cases, which is to heat the intake air to improve combustion. Note however that the intake air heating system only comes into operation when the ambient temperature falls below a level determined by the manufacturer. There are several advantages to heating the intake air. Reducing the volume of air entering the engine by heating it means that less fuel is required to maintain the optimal air/fuel ratio, since a hot air/fuel mixture combusts more completely than does a cold mixture. This results in fewer emissions, and improved fuel economy. By way of contrast, applications that do not heat the intake air must add additional fuel to the incoming cold air to compensate for the greater density of cold air, which results in increased emissions and increased fuel consumption. The image below shows the typical construction and location of an intake-air heating element. Note however that actual designs vary between applications and manufacturers.
What are the common causes of code P0542 ?
The most common cause of code P0542 is failure of the intake air heater element relay, but other possible causes could include the following-- Defective heater element
- Damaged, burnt, shorted, disconnected, or corroded wiring and/or connectors.
- Open circuits
- Defective blower motors
- Defective intake air temperature sensor
- Failed, or failing PCM. Note that this is a rare event and the fault must be sought elsewhere before any controller is replaced.
What are the symptoms of code P0542 ?
In many cases, there may be no symptoms present other than a stored trouble code and perhaps an illuminated warning light. Serious symptoms that affect driveability are relatively rare, but these might include the following in sub-zero temperatures-- Longer than usual cranking times.
- Rough idling in very low temperatures. Note that this symptom will usually diminish as the engine warms up.
- In rare cases, the engine might stall during idling in very low temperatures.
- In some cases, a slight increase in fuel consumption might occur.
PO542. No voltage to intake heater. Relays are not coming on to send voltage to intake heater.