P0C94: Hybrid/EV Battery Temperature Sensor K Circuit Low

With P0C94 the controller sees the sensor K signal pulled below its lower limit, a pattern produced by a chafed wire touching ground or an internally shorted thermistor, which the conversion turns into an extreme temperature. GM's 2016 table 16OBDG02 counts a failure whenever the converted value is hotter than 160 °C and needs 8 such readings out of 10, one every 100 ms, Type B; in the 2012 Volt table the same sensor group passes only at or below 87.5 °C. The 2018 Outlander PHEV from Mitsubishi files a short of sensor [10] when the voltage stays below 0.12 V for 2 s. Unlike with the over-temperature code P0A7E, the pack itself is usually not hot. The battery controller nonetheless limits power and may keep the cooling busy; the open-circuit partner is P0C95.

High severity. Can I keep driving?If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

Symptoms

Warning lamp and reduced electric power
Battery cooling running although the pack is not hot

Most likely causes

Sensor K signal line shorted to ground
Thermistor K shorted internally
Moisture or coolant reaching the sensor K connection

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

Read the codes with a hybrid-compatible scanner and write down the freeze frame data
With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
Leave any high-voltage measurements to a specialized repair shop

Good to know

It can trigger limp mode.
It affects emissions.

What each character of P0C94 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
0: Generic code: same on every make
C: Subsystem depends on the code range
94: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0C94?

If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

What causes code P0C94?

The most common causes are: sensor K signal line shorted to ground; thermistor K shorted internally; moisture or coolant reaching the sensor K connection.

Related codes

Sources

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.