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P0096 Intake air temperature sensor: reading or operation not right (sensor 2, bank 1)

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P0096 means: Intake air temperature sensor: reading or operation not right (sensor 2, bank 1). A temperature sensor tells the computer the temperature of the air, coolant, fuel or oil. Drive gently and have the car checked soon. The most common repair costs about €80–160 in Estonia, depending on make and model.

Is it safe to drive?Get it checked soonDrive gently and have the car checked soon.
Sensor replacement€80–160parts and labour in Estonia, depending on make and model

What it means

A temperature sensor tells the computer the temperature of the air, coolant, fuel or oil. With a wrong reading the computer gets the mixture and the fan wrong. There is a signal, but the reading or operation isn't plausible. The cause may be the part itself or a real mechanical fault. Sensor 2 or 3 sits after the catalytic converter.

What you may notice

  • Engine light on
  • Hard cold starts
  • The fan may run all the time
  • Higher fuel consumption

What could be wrong

  1. 1Faulty sensor · Sensor replacement €80–160
  2. 2Corroded or loose connector · Wiring or connector repair €45–90
  3. 3Broken or chafed wire · Wiring or connector repair €45–90
  4. 4Engine computer fault (rare) · Control unit check and software €150–300

Repair difficulty: Easy

What you can check yourself

Check the sensor connector and make sure it is clipped in. On a cold engine, compare the reading with the outside temperature. You can do the simpler checks yourself.

How we fix it

  1. We read the sensor on the diagnostic tool and compare it with other sensors
  2. We check the connector, supply and ground
  3. We repair the wiring or replace the sensor

Standard SAE description: Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance Bank 1

This code usually comes with: Check engine lightSee what the light means →

Want a definite answer?

Bring the car to our workshop in Estonia for diagnostics. We read the fault codes, test the sensors and tell you what is wrong. Repair price depends on the work involved, generally €45 per hour.

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Questions

What does fault code P0096 mean?

Intake air temperature sensor: reading or operation not right (sensor 2, bank 1). A temperature sensor tells the computer the temperature of the air, coolant, fuel or oil. With a wrong reading the computer gets the mixture and the fan wrong. There is a signal, but the reading or operation isn't plausible. The cause may be the part itself or a real mechanical fault. Sensor 2 or 3 sits after the catalytic converter.

Can I drive with code P0096?

Drive gently and have the car checked soon.

How much does it cost to fix P0096?

It depends on the cause: sensor replacement €80–160; wiring or connector repair €45–90. Prices include labour at €45/h, depending on make and model.

How is P0096 fixed?

We read the sensor on the diagnostic tool and compare it with other sensors. We check the connector, supply and ground. We repair the wiring or replace the sensor.

Related codes

P0097Intake air temperature sensor: signal or voltage too low (sensor 2, bank 1)P0095Intake air temperature sensor: circuit fault (sensor 2, bank 1)P0220Fault in the second throttle or accelerator pedal sensor wiringP0221Second throttle position sensor reads wrongP0222Second throttle position sensor signal too lowP0070Outside air temperature sensor: circuit fault

Based on AI combined with our hands-on workshop experience and knowledge. This information is general and prices are approximate (Estonian workshop rates). The same code can mean different things on different cars. Only an inspection of the car gives a definite answer.

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