P0C96: Hybrid/EV Battery Temperature Sensor K Circuit Intermittent/Erratic

P0C96 flags an unsteady sensor K signal, the kind of noise a loose contact produces while the value still sits inside its valid band. GM describes the monitor in 16OBDG02 and 18OBDG02: each 100 ms sample adds to a running total of absolute changes across 10 samples, a total above 10 marks the window as failed, and 4 failed windows in 5 store the code, Type B, so two bad trips are needed. Supply over 10.2 V and intact communication with the battery interface module are prerequisites. Mitsubishi defines no erratic code for its sensor [10]. Moving the harness by hand while a scan tool shows the value often reveals the cause. P0C94 and P0C95 cover faults where the signal stays out of range.

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

Intermittent warning lamp
Short spells of reduced power

Most likely causes

Loose contact in the sensor K connector
Partly chafed sensor lead touching intermittently
Monitoring board with unstable supply or ground

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
Gently move the wiring with the engine running and watch whether the reading changes.
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 P0C96 means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0C96?

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 P0C96?

The most common causes are: loose contact in the sensor K connector; partly chafed sensor lead touching intermittently; monitoring board with unstable supply or ground.

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.