Sensor, Air Temperature, Intake: Operation: Operation

The intake air temperature sensor is a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor (resistance varies with temperature). This means at cold air temperature its resistance is high, so the voltage signal will be high. As intake air temperature increases, sensor resistance decreases and the signal voltage will be low. This allows the sensor to provide an analog voltage signal (0.2-4.8 volts) to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM).