Intake air temperature sensor 2 is the second air temperature sensor in the intake path. On many turbocharged engines it sits in the intake manifold behind the compressor and charge air cooler, often combined with the manifold pressure sensor, and is used to calculate cylinder filling and ignition timing. The numbering is not standardised, so its position can differ between manufacturers. P0096 is a plausibility check: at a start after a long standstill the sensor is compared with intake air temperature sensor 1 and others, which should then agree; some systems also flag implausibly high readings while driving. A sensor stuck at one value is detected this way.
Low severity. Can I keep driving?Yes, you can normally keep driving and take it to a repair shop when convenient.
Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. Inline engines only have this bank.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Usually no noticeable symptoms
- Slightly changed power or retarded ignition possible
Most likely causes
- Sensor drifting or coated with oil or soot from crankcase and exhaust gas recirculation
- Contact resistance at the connector
- Comparison sensor faulty
- Heat soak or leak in the intake manifold
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: easy
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P0096 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 0: Subsystem depends on the code range
- 96: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0096?
Yes, you can normally keep driving and take it to a repair shop when convenient.
What causes code P0096?
The most common causes are: sensor drifting or coated with oil or soot from crankcase and exhaust gas recirculation; contact resistance at the connector; comparison sensor faulty.
Related codes
- P0095Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Bank 1
- P0097Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Low Bank 1
- P0098Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit High Bank 1
- P0111Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Range/Performance Bank 1
- P007BCharge Air Cooler Temperature Sensor Circuit Range/Performance Bank 1
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- newtonnet.co.uk: fordobd2012
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG04 Engine Diagnostics
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG03 Engine Diagnostics
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.