Multiple sensor error codes

A couple weeks ago my truck went from driving fine to giving me multiple error codes and running like crap. Error codes, according to auto zone, include camshaft position sensor, mass airflow, and exhaust. Is it common for all of these sensors to go out at the same time? Or is it more likely that my electronics are grounding out improperly?
(Truck runs mighty rough, cruise control doesn't work, and a/c doesn't work)

My car has 100000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. For a all of the problems to occur all at once and make the cruise control and A/C quit, too, this is likely going to be a wiring issue.

First check the condition of the battery and battery cables. If the battery is less than 12.4 volts charged, then some functions will not work. There is a ground wire to the fuse box that goes to the frame. Check to see if the wire is loose or has corrosion.

Check the fuses in the fuse box and make sure that all of the fuses are in good shape. Check the power wire from the battery to the fuse box and from the alternator to the fuse box for any looseness or corrosion.

If all of the wiring checks out and nothing is wrong, then it is possible that all of the issues have occurred at once. If you need further assistance diagnosing your electrical system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you with your vehicle.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

A faulty mass airflow sensor is a common reason why a check engine light comes on. If the engine control module receives a MAF error code, it will turn on the check engine light to let you know that there is a problem with the engine.
There are several symptoms of a bad MAF sensor, and not all of them are immediately obvious: Illuminated Check Engine Light: Performance and circuit diagnostic trouble codes may refer directly to the MAF sensor, but fuel trim and misfire codes can also be linked to the MAF sensor.
The mass air flow (MAF) sensor measures the amount of air entering the engine. Check engine light code P0101 is set when the measurement of air entering the engine by the mass air flow sensor is outside of the manufacturer`s specified range.
A bad MAF sensor can cause your vehicle to experience poor drivability issues such as engine stalling, jerking or hesitation during acceleration.
The MAF sensor malfunctioning can also cause your car to throw a check engine light (CEL). Furthermore, it can cause different check engine codes such as the O2 sensor, “low air volume”, or something else.
MAF sensors can become damaged, but more often they just get too dirty to do their job well. In this case, they can be cleaned but if it is a mechanical or electrical failure, they must be replaced.
The air filter may be the MAF sensor`s first line of defense via the engine`s air intake system, but a clogged, low quality or dirty air filter can actually become the source of MAF sensor damage if any contamination bypasses it.
Cleaning the MAF as part of regular routine maintenance can help reduce and/or prevent these problems. If the MAF sensor is at fault, cleaning it can help, and many times, even solve the problem. This can be done at home. You just need to remove the component, clean it, and reattach it to your engine air intake system.
Check engine light on – When the mass airflow sensor is not working properly, too much air could enter the engine and not enough fuel. This can trigger the check engine light on your dashboard. Engine stalling – A malfunctioning MAF sensor can cause the engine to stall or die unexpectedly.
Not all makes and models of cars will need the ECU reset after replacing the MAF sensor, but the majority will. Do you have to reset a mass air flow sensor? Yes, disconnecting the battery for around 10 to 15 minutes is an important step to take after replacing the MAF sensor to ensure that the sensor resets.
Yes, the MAF sensor should be calibrated for the injector size. And yes, at some point you`ll likely have to increase injector size if you keep adding horsepower. At that point, you`ll also want to match the MAF sensor up to the increased fuel injector size.
Common faults caused by a dirty MAF sensor include: rough running at idle, increased fuel consumption, low power, poor throttle response, poor starting and black smoke (diesels). Even the dreaded check engine light (MIL) lighting up can be a sign of dirty MAF sensor.
The MAF sensor regulates the air-fuel mixture in the engine and might become dirty. The dirt on the sensor sends wrong values to the control unit, and the limp mode is activated. You can simply clean it with an electronic cleaner, and your car will start functioning again.
Contamination is a key reason why MAF sensors fail and require replacement. As air, dirt and other debris get into the sensor, the parts become contaminated and fail. Drivers often notice sluggish performance, rough idling, poor acceleration or even stalling. There may also be a more frequent need to refuel.
Stalling, jerking, or hesitation during acceleration

A bad MAF sensor can cause too much fuel to be left in the combustion chamber, creating untimed detonations. You`ll experience this as poor drivability such as hesitations or sudden jerking motions, particularly during acceleration.

A mass air flow typically last between 80,000 miles to 150,000 miles. Proper maintenance of the mass air flow and cleaning it will help prolong its life. However, there are a few vehicle symptoms that will tell you when it is time to replace the air flow sensor. The first symptom is hard starting.
Stalling, jerking, or hesitation during acceleration

A bad MAF sensor can cause too much fuel to be left in the combustion chamber, creating untimed detonations. You`ll experience this as poor drivability such as hesitations or sudden jerking motions, particularly during acceleration.

Without a proper signal from the mass air flow sensor, the powertrain control module (PCM), which manages the engine, transmission, and other systems in your car, won`t know how much fuel the engine needs. This can either cause the engine to run too lean (too little fuel) or too rich (too much fuel).
MAF sensors can become damaged, but more often they just get too dirty to do their job well. In this case, they can be cleaned but if it is a mechanical or electrical failure, they must be replaced.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

It threw a code 21 , throttle position sensor bad code. i replaced it and the code went away but i still have no spark.
ANSWER : Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. The problems that you are encountering with your vehicle, could be caused by the harness to the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) or the computer itself.

Check the harness to the TPS for any debris or any corrosion. Hook up a paperclip to the harness and turn on the key. Use a multimeter and check for voltage at the pins of the harness. Make sure that the ground on the sensor is grounded and has no resistance. If you find that the harness is having too much resistance, then I recommend having the main engine harness replaced. If you have replaced the harness and still have the same problems, then the computer will need to be flashed or replaced.

I recommend having a professional, like one from YourMechanic, come to your home to diagnose your car’s no start condition before replacing any parts.

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My code reader says I have a bad mass air flow sensor ans crank shat sensor test drive ran better shut off & engine Lt. Same code
ANSWER : Hi there. The problem you are describing, sounds like you may have a poor connection in the connector at the mass airflow sensor. Although, sometimes aftermarket parts do not perform as well as factory (OEM) parts. Check for corrosion and/or wide spacing in the terminal ends. Compare the terminal ends in the connector using a flashlight to see better. The terminals can be tightened. If you are not comfortable with doing that, a replacement pigtail (connector) is available. You vehicle may require further diagnosis performed with a scanner that provides parameters that can be viewed as the fault occurs. If that is the case, I recommend having your vehicle’s electrical circuits inspected in order to pinpoint the underlying fault.

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Camshaft position sensor error code P0343
ANSWER : Hello. The P0343 code indicates there is no signal from the passenger side cam position sensor (Bank 1 actually). Given you have changed the sensor, this would suggest a wiring or connector issue. Your mileage would also make me anxious about timing chain guides, tensioner and timing chain – a chronic maintenance item on BMW V8s with this sort of mileage. While the timing chain service is a bit expensive, the alternative is even more so. I recommend having a certified technician from YourMechanic to thoroughly inspect the Check Engine Light and proceed with the appropriate repair.

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The TPS error code P0123 appears only when the AC is on
ANSWER : Hello. The low charge in the A/C system is going to cause the A/C compressor to work harder than it should. This will put a greater load on the engine and may cause your throttle position sensor to give a bad reading. Have a certified technician set the A/C system to the proper levels and see if the P0123 code continues. Having the throttle body cleaned may also help fix this problem. If you need help with this, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the code more thoroughly in order to have this corrected.

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I had a p0405 get code replaced egr valve, map sensor,mad sensor, and PCv valve just to be safe but still getting the code why?
ANSWER : The code P0405 and a rough idle is most likely due to carbon getting into the EGR pintle. This will hold the EGR open. When you are getting the rough idle you should shut off engine and remove EGR valve. Check to see if carbon is holding the pintle open. If it is then you will have to remove the carbon from the pintle. Then try and clean out the EGR passages by scrapping them using a round wire brush. Afterwards, start the engine for a few seconds with valve removed to blow out loose carbon. You should then spray a small amount of carbon cleaner into the passages to dissolve the carbon. Lastly, reinstall the EGR and reset the light and codes.

If you’d like assistance with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified professional can come to the vehicles locations to perform these checks and properly diagnose your Check Engine Light.

Read Full Q/A … : Multiple sensor error codes

Multiple sensor error codes
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. For a all of the problems to occur all at once and make the cruise control and A/C quit, too, this is likely going to be a wiring issue.

First check the condition of the battery and battery cables. If the battery is less than 12.4 volts charged, then some functions will not work. There is a ground wire to the fuse box that goes to the frame. Check to see if the wire is loose or has corrosion.

Check the fuses in the fuse box and make sure that all of the fuses are in good shape. Check the power wire from the battery to the fuse box and from the alternator to the fuse box for any looseness or corrosion.

If all of the wiring checks out and nothing is wrong, then it is possible that all of the issues have occurred at once. If you need further assistance diagnosing your electrical system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you with your vehicle.

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Service engine warning, MAF code and O2 sensor code, along with check suspension light are turned on
ANSWER : Hello, it sounds like you have quite a few things going on. I am going to do my best to break them down for you.

First if the engine is very loud when idling and the belt has already been replaced, there may be an issue with the tensioner or idler pulley.
Next, the Navigator is known for needing service to the air suspension system as it gets up in miles, the most common causes of these are the air struts themselves have failed, or one of the air lines has a leak.
Lastly, if the O2 sensor and MAF are continually coming back after the sensors have been replaced, the most common cause would be either an exhaust leak or a vacuum leak.

Qualified technicians such as the ones at YourMechanic will be able to diagnose these issues and recommend the best path to repair, starting with a diagnosis of your warning lights.

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check engine light O2 sensor already replaced same codes still popping up after replacing old O2 sensor
ANSWER : Hi there. What you received from the parts store was a code retrieval, not a diagnostic. The codes are set when a fault is detected against normal operating parameter. The computer does not know what caused the fault, only that the fault meets the criteria for this code to set. There could be a problem in the wire harness, converter, or the ECM. The code and data are needed to properly assess the direction that a diagnosis needs. I strongly suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with a check engine light inspection.

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Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.