What does this code mean?
The engine uses information about intake-air pressure and surrounding air pressure. P0106 means a pressure reading does not match expectations. MAP is the name of the sensor measuring pressure in the engine intake manifold, the passage that distributes incoming air.
Locate the reported problem
MAP describes absolute pressure, not air mass. The workshop must account for engine state and local atmospheric pressure.
Read it with the other codes
A pressure discrepancy can arise from the measurement path or a real intake condition. It is not the same fault as a MAF code.
Possible causes to investigate
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis or a ranked list of failed parts.
- An intake connection, air leak or restriction affecting the measurement.
- A sensor, connector, power supply or signal-circuit problem.
What to do first
- Record whether the light appeared after an air-filter change or intake repair. Keep the complete code list.
- With the engine off and cool, look only for accessible disconnected intake fittings. Avoid touching sensing elements or spraying cleaners into them.
What the workshop can check
Ask the workshop to compare measured airflow, pressure or temperature with operating conditions and the correct wiring information. Electrical input faults and implausible readings call for different checks.
A useful question to ask
Do pressure readings agree with engine state and atmospheric pressure before and after starting?
Your vehicle changes the next step
Year, make, model, engine and the complete code list matter. Cylinder layout, test conditions and repair procedures can differ. Use service information for the exact vehicle; a generic code does not establish an exact failed part.
Can I keep driving?
This page cannot decide whether your car is safe to drive. A flashing engine light, severe shaking, overheating, strong fuel smell or major power loss calls for prompt attention. Stop safely when needed, follow your handbook and seek assistance rather than continuing a test drive.
Terms in this guide
These words appear in the explanation. Select an underlined term in the text to reach its definition.
- Intake
- The passages and components that bring air into the engine. The intake manifold distributes that air among the cylinders.
- MAP and barometric pressure
- MAP measures absolute pressure inside the intake manifold. Barometric pressure is outside air pressure and changes with altitude and weather. Pressure is not the same as air quantity.
- Sensor and signal
- A sensor measures something such as pressure or temperature. Its signal carries that information electrically to the car computer; a wrong reading does not always mean the measured component is faulty.
- Range, threshold and performance
- A range is the expected interval; a threshold is a comparison limit. Performance describes whether something responds as expected, not necessarily how much power the engine makes.
- MAF or airflow meter
- A sensor measuring the mass of incoming air to help calculate how much fuel the engine needs.
- Circuit, supply and ground
- A circuit includes the wiring and connections carrying electricity. Supply powers a component; ground is its electrical return. A fault in any of these can change a reading.
Sources and scope
Definitions and general OBD context are cross-checked against the references below. Manufacturer documents describe specific vehicles and systems; their procedures and thresholds are not instructions for every make. This is educational guidance, not a vehicle-specific repair procedure.