A damaged or chafed wire in the sensor K circuit, often where the harness bends near the battery pack or passes through a grommet.; A loose, corroded, or backed-out terminal at the sensor connector or at the battery energy control module connector.; An internal fault in temperature sensor K itself, such as a failing thermistor that opens and closes with temperature or vibration.; Water intrusion or contamination in the sensor connector or harness, causing intermittent shorts or high resistance.; A failing battery energy control module, though this is less common than wiring and sensor faults.; Heat damage or vibration fatigue in the sensor pigtail, particularly on packs that see frequent fast charging or rough roads.

DTC codes / P0Cxx · Hybrid propulsion / P0C96

P0C96Hybrid/EV Battery Temperature Sensor K Circuit Intermittent/Erratic

P0C96 means the hybrid or electric vehicle battery pack's temperature sensor K is reporting a signal that cuts in and out or jumps erratically, rather than a steady temperature reading. The battery energy control module detects these intermittent drops or spikes and stores the code because it cannot trust the sensor's data for safe battery management.

SystemPowertrain

Code typeGeneric (all makes)

SeverityMedium

Fix difficultyProfessional

AreaHybrid propulsion

Symptoms you may notice

Often no symptoms besides the warning light, especially if the erratic signal is brief and the module can substitute another sensor's reading.
A hybrid or EV system warning message on the dash, sometimes accompanied by a reduced-power or turtle mode.
Inconsistent or disabled battery cooling fan operation, since the module may ignore temperature data it considers unreliable.
Intermittent loss of electric-only driving range or a sudden switch to the gasoline engine in a plug-in hybrid.
A stored code that returns after clearing, sometimes only after driving over bumps or in wet weather.
In rare cases, the vehicle may refuse to start or engage the high-voltage battery contactors.

Common causes, most likely first

A damaged or chafed wire in the sensor K circuit, often where the harness bends near the battery pack or passes through a grommet.
A loose, corroded, or backed-out terminal at the sensor connector or at the battery energy control module connector.
An internal fault in temperature sensor K itself, such as a failing thermistor that opens and closes with temperature or vibration.
Water intrusion or contamination in the sensor connector or harness, causing intermittent shorts or high resistance.
A failing battery energy control module, though this is less common than wiring and sensor faults.
Heat damage or vibration fatigue in the sensor pigtail, particularly on packs that see frequent fast charging or rough roads.

How to diagnose and fix it

Clear the code and road-test the vehicle over rough surfaces and through temperature swings to confirm whether the fault is truly intermittent and to record freeze-frame data.
Inspect the sensor K circuit harness and connector for chafing, corrosion, water intrusion, and loose pins, repairing any damage found.
Back-probe the sensor K signal and ground circuits at the module connector and wiggle the harness to look for resistance changes or voltage drops.
Measure the sensor's resistance at known temperatures and compare it with the manufacturer's temperature-resistance chart to check for an erratic thermistor.
If the circuit and sensor check out, substitute a known-good sensor or simulate the signal with a resistor box to see whether the code returns.
Check for technical service bulletins and software updates for the battery energy control module that address intermittent temperature sensor reporting.
Replace the faulty sensor or repair the harness, then clear codes and verify the temperature reading is stable across a full drive cycle.

Intermittent sensor faults that fool good technicians

A sensor that tests perfectly on a warm shop bench can still be intermittent in the pack, so always wiggle-test the harness and sensor pigtail while watching live temperature data.
This code does not always mean the sensor is bad; a poor ground or a shared reference voltage fault elsewhere in the pack can make sensor K look erratic.
Battery temperature sensors are often wired in a series or multiplexed string, so a fault in a neighbouring sensor's wiring can corrupt sensor K's reading.
After any hybrid battery service, verify that the sensor connector is fully latched and the seal is intact, because a partially seated connector is a common comeback cause.
Some vehicles set this code only after multiple drive cycles, so a single clear-and-drive may not prove the repair until the monitor runs again.

Can I keep driving with P0C96?

You can usually drive the vehicle short distances to a repair shop, but avoid aggressive driving, fast charging, and long trips until the fault is fixed. If the dash shows a reduced-power warning or the vehicle refuses to start, stop driving and have it towed.

Tools that help

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Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.