Symptoms of a Faulty or Faulty Barometric Sensor

Common symptoms include poor engine performance such as sluggish acceleration, lack of power and misfiring, and the Check Engine light coming on.

A barometric sensor, also commonly known as a barometric air pressure (BAP) sensor, is a type of engine control sensor commonly used in many vehicles. It is responsible for measuring the atmospheric pressure of the environment in which the car is moving. Different environments will have different atmospheric pressure, which will affect the running of the car. At higher altitudes, the air will be thinner, meaning less oxygen to the engine during intake strokes, requiring a different amount of fuel.

BAP is similar to an engine's MAP sensor. However, BAP measures pressure outside the engine, while MAP measures pressure inside the manifold. The computer often interprets data from both sensors to determine the best timing and fuel delivery conditions for optimum engine performance. For this reason, when BAP sensors fail, they can cause engine performance problems. When they fail, the car will usually display several symptoms that may alert the driver to a possible problem that needs to be addressed.

Poor engine performance, sluggish acceleration and lack of power

A symptom commonly associated with a problematic barometric pressure sensor is poor engine performance. If the BAP sensor is defective, it may send an incorrect signal to the ECU, which may adversely affect engine performance. BAP sensor readings help determine fuel and timing conditions, so if the signal is compromised for any reason, the computer's calculations will be reset. This can lead to sluggish acceleration, lack of power and misfiring in more severe cases.

The Check Engine light comes on

Another common sign of a bad BAP sensor is a glowing Check Engine light. If the computer detects a problem with the sensor or the BAP signal, it will illuminate the Check Engine light to alert the driver that it has detected a problem.

BAP sensors are essential components of many modern engine management systems. While they are simple in nature since they operate at atmospheric pressure, they can be difficult to test. For this reason, if you suspect that your BAP sensor may have a problem, or your Check Engine light is on, have your vehicle checked by a professional technician, such as one from AvtoTachki. They will be able to determine if your vehicle needs a barometric sensor replacement or any other repairs that are appropriate.