What does it mean?
OBD II fault code P0108 is defined as “ Manifold Air Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit High Input”, and is set when the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) detects a signal from the MAP (Manifold Air Pressure Sensor) that falls outside of the expected value for the reigning engine load or throttle position, or otherwise fails to correlate with the actual pressure/vacuum in the intake manifold.
All applications use data from the manifold pressure (or vacuum) to calculate an appropriate fuel delivery strategy to suit the current engine load, and to make suitable adjustments to ignition timing as well as valve/cam timing on applications where VVT or VCS systems are present. From this it should be obvious that incorrect or invalid data can cause serious disruptions in the smooth and efficient operation of an engine.
On most applications, a fault code is set when the PCM detects a mismatch between the throttle position and the signal voltage from the MAP sensor for more than four continuous seconds. The deviation from the correct sensor voltage is measured against a reference voltage for the particular application.
However, the four-second code setting parameter may differ between applications, which makes it important to consult the manual for the vehicle being worked on for accurate information on code setting parameters. Note: Circuit High Input codes are mostly caused by defective alternators that develop excessive voltages, although there may be other causes as well, such as short circuits that “leak” current into a particular system from other, unrelated systems that work on higher voltages.
Note that in the case of short circuits that leak power into a control circuit, there is likely to be other, seemingly unrelated trouble codes present along with the code(s) being investigated. Diagnosing a “high input” code will always involve a thorough testing of the charging system as a first step, followed by measures to isolate the system from all other possible sources of power during resistance, continuity, and reference voltage tests.