P0104 fault code: Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent

P0104 means “Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Confirm P0104; tapping a live air-flow meter is not a check we publish.

Do not DIYReviewed page boundary
ToolsSpecialist equipment

This is the conservative boundary from the reviewed code record. This page has no frozen site-wide safety grade, so it does not publish a repair route.

What to tell the garage about P0104

Do not drive. The mass or volume air-flow signal is cutting in and out, so fuelling can surge even when the engine looks otherwise ordinary between glitches.

Take these reviewed, code-specific details with you. They help the garage confirm the fault without turning this page into a repair procedure.

  • Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent: Registration number
  • Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent: Exact code P0104 and how many times it has returned
  • Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent: Whether power cuts on bumps, in rain, or when hot
  • Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent: Any other air-flow or throttle codes from the same scan
P01xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0104 mean?

P0104 is a generic (SAE standard) powertrain code reported by your car’s engine control unit. It sits in the P01xx block, which covers fuel and air metering. The stored description is “Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0104 fail an MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until repaired and the lamp stays off. P0104 is intermittent; a lamp that happens to be off at test does not prove the circuit is healthy.

Before booking your test, check what usually fails on your car: see our MOT pass rates by make and model, built from 33.1 million DVSA tests.

Related guides

Car diagnostic test cost: compare the scopeUK booking marketplaces currently publish diagnostic averages of about £52–£65. Engine management light on: steady or flashing?A steady engine management light means the computer has stored a fault. Drive with caution and get the code read. A flashing light is different — stop when it is safe.
P0100Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit P0101Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Range/Performance P0102Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Low Input P0103Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit High Input P0105Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit P0106Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit Range/Performance P0107Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit Low Input P0108Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit High Input

P0104 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0104?

Do not drive. We have no verified driving guidance for P0104 — treat as do not drive until checked. An intermittent air-flow circuit can stall in traffic; it is not a 'wait and see' emissions code.

Will P0104 fail my MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until repaired and the lamp stays off. P0104 is intermittent; a lamp that happens to be off at test does not prove the circuit is healthy.

Fault-code identifiers are standard diagnostic facts. Their explanations and diagnostic guidance on this site are original editorial summaries, not reproduced SAE wording. MOT defect rules reflect the DVSA MOT inspection manual (2026). This page is general guidance for UK drivers, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.