P0104

Mass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A Circuit Intermittent

Fuel & air metering Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0104 means the signal from the mass air flow (MAF) sensor is cutting out or jumping around intermittently rather than reading steadily. The MAF tells the ECM how much air is entering the engine so it can meter fuel. An intermittent signal makes the fuel mixture swing, so the engine may hesitate, surge, or stall — usually restarting fine afterward.

High

Can I keep driving? You can usually keep driving, but expect intermittent stalling, hesitation, or surging; the fault comes and goes, so have it fixed before it strands you.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

742

scans in the past year

Found in

0.1%

of scans

0.2%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0104 scans

P0103in 24.5% of scans

P0101in 12.0% of scans

P0113in 11.6% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on, sometimes flickering on and off
Intermittent hesitation, surging, or rough idle
Occasional stalling that clears on restart
Reduced power or poor fuel economy at times

Common causes

Most likely first

Loose, corroded, or intermittent MAF connector — a very common causeLikely
Chafed or broken wiring in the MAF circuitCommon
Contaminated or failing MAF sensor elementCommon
Loose intake ducting or air leaks disturbing the readingLess often
Rarely, an ECM faultLess often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Inspect the MAF connector and wiring, wiggling them with the engine running to catch the intermittent fault.
Clean the MAF sensor element with dedicated MAF cleaner (never touch it).
Check the intake ducting between the MAF and throttle for loose clamps or cracks.
Repair damaged wiring or reseat/replace the connector.
If the signal still drops out, replace the MAF sensor; clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0104?+

Usually, but the intermittent stalling and hesitation can be unsafe in traffic. It's fine for short trips, but get it repaired soon.

Can I just clear P0104?+

The code may clear, but because the fault is intermittent it returns once the loose connection or sensor acts up again.

Read & clear P0104 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX