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U0118

Lost Communication with Cabin Air Quality Sensor Module

The Cabin Air Quality Sensor Module has stopped transmitting on the vehicle data bus, so other control units no longer receive its messages. Automatic air-recirculation control loses its air-quality input. Typical causes are loss of power or ground at the module, an open or shorted CAN/LIN bus wire, a connector fault, or an internal module failure.

  • Check engine light: Not always
  • Emissions related: No
  • Repair difficulty: medium

Symptoms

  • Multiple warning lights may illuminate
  • Affected modules may go into limp mode or shut down
  • Specific functions inoperative depending on module
  • Diagnostic tools may show communication faults

Common causes

Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.

  • Air quality sensor unpoweredCommon
  • CAN wiring to air quality sensor brokenPossible
  • Gateway module routing CAN messages incorrectlyLess likely

Parts involved

  • Air Quality Sensor Module
  • CAN Bus Wiring

U0118 is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.