SPN 172 FMI 3Turbo/AirMedium
Engine Air Intake Temperature — Voltage Above Normal
Scan Tool — in guided session
DVOM Testing — in guided session
Connector Pinout — in guided session
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Overview
Fault Code
SPN 172 / FMI 3
Category
Turbo/Air
Fault Type
sensor
FMI Category
voltage high
Severity
Medium
Derate Risk
No
Regen Inhibit
No
Inducement Risk
No
Component Location: Air intake temperature sensor — on air intake pipe or air filter housing
Common Symptoms
- Air intake temperature sensor reading high
- Engine protection affected
Root Causes
- Sensor shorted high
- Connector damage
- Wiring short to power
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Derate Behavior
Power Derate
No
Mileage / Regen Notes
Sensor failure common at 200k–400k miles.
System Interactions
SPN 172 FMI 3 interacts with the following systems and may trigger cascading faults if not resolved promptly.
TSB Reference: Cummins TSB 4021531 — Air Intake Temperature Sensor Short High
Common Diagnostic Mistakes
Replacing the sensor without verifying wiring continuity and supply voltage first.
Clearing codes without identifying and resolving the root cause — the fault will return.
Ignoring related active faults — cascading faults often share a root cause.
Skipping the connector inspection — corrosion and damaged pins are a leading cause of sensor faults.
Condemning the ECM before exhausting all wiring and component tests.
OEM Notes
Cummins
X15: Air intake temp sensor monitors air filter restriction.
Detroit
DD15: Check connector for moisture.
PACCAR
MX-13: Sensor located on air intake pipe.
Related Faults in This Category
OEM System Resources
ASE Training Resources
Diagnostic Engine v7.0
Related Diagnostic Articles
Deep-dive diagnostic page: SPN 172 FMI 3 — Full FSM Sequence & Repair Steps — includes wiring notes, sensor specs, and gated repair procedures.
Authority References
Diagnostic procedures on this page are informed by OEM service literature and industry standards.
Cummins QuickServe OnlineOfficial Cummins service manuals, fault code lookup, and TSB database.Detroit Diesel DiagnoCentralDetroit Diesel diagnostic procedures, DDDL documentation, and service literature.PACCAR MX Engine ServicePACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engine service documentation and DAVIE diagnostic guides.Volvo/Mack Tech ToolVolvo and Mack engine fault code reference and PTT/Tech Tool diagnostic procedures.ASE — Diesel Truck Technician CertificationNational Institute for Automotive Service Excellence — T2 Diesel Engines certification standards.EPA Aftertreatment & Emissions GuidelinesU.S. EPA heavy-duty diesel aftertreatment compliance, DPF/SCR regulations, and NOx standards.
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