Air Temperature Sensor ( Ambient / Intake ): Description and Operation
ENGINE CONTROL COMPONENTSIntake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor
The IAT sensor is a thermistor device in which resistance changes with temperature. The electrical resistance of a thermistor decreases as the temperature increases, and resistance increases as the temperature decreases. The varying resistance affects the voltage drop across the sensor terminals and provides electrical voltage signals to the powertrain control module (PCM) corresponding to temperature.
The IAT sensor is integrated with the mass air flow (MAF) sensor, known as the MAF/IAT sensor.
The MAF/IAT sensor is located in the intake air tube between the air filter housing and the turbocharger intake.