P0196 Diagnostic Trouble Code

P0196 is a kind of OBD-II Diagnostic P-Powertrain Diagnostic Trouble Code.

It is considered generic because it applies to all makes and models of vehicles, although specific repair steps may be different depending on your car model.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a P0196 diagnostic trouble code may include:

The light may stay on or light intermittently as the DPF regenerates. The engine will be sluggish on acceleration.
Faulty PCM
If the DPF is not cleared the ECU will revert to the "Limp Home Mode" until the situation is corrected
Rich or lean exhaust

Possible Causes :

The Mass Airflow sensor will also cause this problem. Mass Airflow circuit malfunction.
Fuel with a large percentage of sulfur will clog the DPF quickly
An air leak forward of the DPF will change the sensor readings resulting in the code

Repair Processes :

Find out what kind of system you have and verify that voltage to the fuel level sensor is present at the fuel pump wiring harness. If the engine displays a miss and there wasn't a code, determine which cylinder is misfiring. If the exhaust manifold is visible, spay or pour a small amount of water on each cylinder exhaust port. Water will evaporate immediately on good cylinders and slowly on the missing cylinder. If this can't be accomplished pull the plugs and check the condition. If the scan tool has that capability, and the scan tool can operate the IMRC valves, then the problem is either resolved and a simple code clearing is all that's left or a new PCM would be called for.

Process Tips

Diagnostic trouble code P0196 is not difficult to diagnose and repair. Thus, it always pays to have a qualified technician to look after your vehicle should this error code arise.

Diagnosing this code requires the engine to be in good running shape, without unmetered air entering the engine. If other codes that relates to misfiring condition, lean running or air entering the engine is present, then you must first fix those error codes before P0196.

Fortunately, P0196 is a fairly common OBD code, meaning that it applies to all makes and models of vehicles made after 1996.

P0196 Trouble Code For Specific Cars

P0196 Tracta Tracta Passenger Side Airbag Fault
P0196 Triumph Daytona Passenger's Seat Recline Back Switch Circuit Short to Battery
P0196 Seat Arosa Injector Circuit Open / Shorted - Cylinder #1
P0196 Ford Cortina Main Blower Motor Relay Circuit Short to Battery
P0196 Seat Toledo Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal
P0196 Peugeot 907 Electrodrive Fan 2 Operational Failure (Passenger Side)
P0196 Lancia Scorpion SSPOD Open Circuit or Closed Circuit Fault