Loose, corroded or damaged connector at the battery temperature sensor or monitoring module; Damaged or chafed sensor wiring, with an intermittent open circuit or short; Faulty battery temperature sensor (thermistor) giving erratic readings; Fault in the battery monitoring or control module's sensor input; Moisture or contamination in the battery pack connectors or sensor harness; Poor sensor contact or mounting inside the pack after earlier repair or impact damage.

P0C96

Hybrid/EV Battery Temperature Sensor K Circuit Intermittent/Erratic.

Generic
Powertrain
Generic code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
C: AreaHybrid propulsion
96: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P0C96 means the hybrid or EV control unit has seen an intermittent or erratic signal from temperature sensor K in the high-voltage battery pack. The reading has jumped, dropped out or moved in a way that does not match real temperature change. The location of sensor K and how the pack is monitored depend on the model and battery design, so check manufacturer data for the exact position.

Symptoms

Hybrid or EV system warning light on the dashboard
Reduced power or limited electric assist or range
Battery cooling fan running louder or more often than normal
Charging slower than usual or stopping early
Fault appearing and clearing intermittently
Reduced regenerative braking

Possible causes

Loose, corroded or damaged connector at the battery temperature sensor or monitoring modulelikely
Damaged or chafed sensor wiring, with an intermittent open circuit or shortlikely
Faulty battery temperature sensor (thermistor) giving erratic readingspossible
Fault in the battery monitoring or control module's sensor inputpossible
Moisture or contamination in the battery pack connectors or sensor harnesspossible
Poor sensor contact or mounting inside the pack after earlier repair or impact damagerare

How to diagnose

Read all stored codes and freeze frame data, noting whether other battery temperature sensor codes are present and under what conditions the fault set
Check for manufacturer service bulletins or known issues for this model and battery type
Carry out a visual inspection of accessible harnesses and connectors for damage, corrosion, moisture or chafing, following the manufacturer's high-voltage safety procedure
Watch live data for sensor K alongside the other pack temperature sensors, looking for sudden jumps or dropouts compared with neighbouring sensors
Wiggle-test the harness and connectors while watching live data to reproduce the intermittent fault
Check that the battery cooling system, fans and ducts are clear and working, so the temperature readings can be judged properly
Test the sensor circuit for resistance, continuity and shorts against manufacturer specifications, after isolating the high-voltage system as required
Only if the circuit is sound, test the sensor and the monitoring module following the manufacturer's procedure

How to fix

Clean, repair or replace faulty connectors and terminals in the sensor circuit
Repair or replace damaged wiring in the sensor harness
Replace the faulty temperature sensor or sensor assembly as the manufacturer specifies
Replace or repair the battery monitoring module if the input fault is confirmed
Dry out and seal the affected connectors, and fix the cause of any moisture ingress
Work on the high-voltage system should only be done by a technician trained in hybrid and EV safety

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can usually be driven for a short time, but the control unit may limit power or charging because it cannot trust the pack temperature. Have it checked soon, and stop driving if the warning escalates, the pack smells hot or the car loses power.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.