CEL P2096, Feeling sluggish

[Quadfreak]

So yesterday a CEL popped up while I was out running an errand, I scanned it and got P2096 Post Catalytic Fuel Trim Bank 1 System Too Lean. I cleared it out, to see if it would come back and everything feels normal. I drove to work, everything felt normal the whole way. On the way home it popped back up, but now its feeling a little sluggish. Accelerating in 6th at about 65mph felt really blah, like it lost all of its low end grunt, and after I got off the freeway the powerband felt very..linear?

So do you think the cats might be going bad? or 02 sensor? Or am I just imagining all this because the CEL is psyching me out??

I was going to do piggies here soon, but this might be excuse I need to go catless and tune shortly after...

[dparm]

I don't think it's a failing O2, as there are different codes for that.

Standard procedure for these types of codes is to clear them and see how soon they come back. In your case, it returned pretty quickly. The next logical step is to remove the sensors and check for any visible damage (frayed wires, damaged connectors, etc). Spray the contacts and the sensor itself with electronics cleaner and reinstall. If the code returns, swap sensors from side to side and see if the code moves.

[SpoolBus]

So yesterday a CEL popped up while I was out running an errand, I scanned it and got P2096 Post Catalytic Fuel Trim Bank 1 System Too Lean. I cleared it out, to see if it would come back and everything feels normal. I drove to work, everything felt normal the whole way. On the way home it popped back up, but now its feeling a little sluggish. Accelerating in 6th at about 65mph felt really blah, like it lost all of its low end grunt, and after I got off the freeway the powerband felt very..linear?

So do you think the cats might be going bad? or 02 sensor? Or am I just imagining all this because the CEL is psyching me out??

I was going to do piggies here soon, but this might be excuse I need to go catless and tune shortly after...

I would say bad O2 or bad injector or possibly a clogged cat or faulty MAF (like how I whittled it down for you )

Both of my pre cats broke apart, got a CEL for the left (can't remember the code) but the DIY piggie's and JHM tune fixed it!

[Quadfreak]

I would say bad O2 or bad injector or possibly a clogged cat or faulty MAF (like how I whittled it down for you )

Both of my pre cats broke apart, got a CEL for the left (can't remember the code) but the DIY piggie's and JHM tune fixed it!

Yeah I'm just not sure if it's pre cats or main cats..I don't want to do all the work of piggies and have the same code come back. I would rather just do that job one time haha.

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[SpoolBus]

The O2's only measure flow through the pre cat
I'm not sure how the secondary (main) would affect the reading ?

[dparm]

The O2's only measure flow through the pre cat
I'm not sure how the secondary (main) would affect the reading ?

No, they measure the main catalyst efficiency too -- sensors before the primary cats, and sensors after the primary cats. The ECU compares the readings to determine if the cats are working.

Pre-cats are pretty much just there for cold-start emissions.

[SpoolBus]

Question, there is an o2 in front of the pre-cat and 1 in the entrance to the main so my thought was it measured the air flow through the primary and into the main (guess if the main was blocked it would backup and trip) but this is the reason JHM relocates the secondary 02 to fool the ECU into thinking the cat is still in place (thus no CEL).
Am I correct with this assumption or way off?

[Jake@JHM]

There are a few things that people have already said in this thread that can cause a lean code (clogged cat, bad o2, even exhaust leak before the sensor). Get those checked out and report back to us.

[Quadfreak]

Also, it is worth noting that I have been averaging about 1-2 mpgs less the last few days with no change in driving habits...is there an easy way to test the o2 sensors while they are still on the car? Im in the process of moving so I don't want to throw a bunch of unnecessary money at it..and lastly, I'm sure the only way to check for clogged cats is to pull the dp's off?

Sorry for so many questions..this is the first time I've had to deal with cat/o2 sensor issues, so I am trying to make sure I have my all my bases covered before I rip into this thing.

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[Quadfreak]

Also, would this code be dealing strictly with the precats?

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[dparm]

If you have VAGCOM you should be able to read the O2 sensor voltages.

And no, I don't think it deals with pre-cats because it is a POST-catalyst sensor, meaning AFTER the main cat converters.

Did you see my initial post? You need to inspect, clean, and reinstall the O2 sensors. You need to start ruling things out.

[SpoolBus]

there is a o2 sensor before the pre cat and an o2 sensor in the neck of the main cat (nothing after the main)

[JimmyBones]

Before you go crazy and have fun making piggies. Try tightening the 5mm allen intake manifold bolts to 11 Nm. There is a TSB for that fault because the intake manifold bolts back out.

[Quadfreak]

Threw P2196 code tonight on my way to work (O2 Sensor Signal Biased/Stuck Rich (Bank 1 Sensor 1)). I will double check the intake mani bolts and try and find someone with vag-com to check on the o2 sensors.

[dparm]

Threw P2196 code tonight on my way to work (O2 Sensor Signal Biased/Stuck Rich (Bank 1 Sensor 1)). I will double check the intake mani bolts and try and find someone with vag-com to check on the o2 sensors.

I hate to repeat myself, but why aren't you just removing and cleaning the sensors yourself? That is one of the most obvious things to start with. In the time it takes you to write these posts and find someone with VAGCOM, you could have crawled under the car (or taken it to an exhaust shop) to do this.

[Quadfreak]

I hate to repeat myself, but why aren't you just removing and cleaning the sensors yourself? That is one of the most obvious things to start with. In the time it takes you to write these posts and find someone with VAGCOM, you could have crawled under the car (or taken it to an exhaust shop) to do this.

Well I work nights and sleep during the day..I have no ramps/stands/tools because I have nowhere to put them where I'm living, so I have to drive to my grandpa's where they are currently being stored..which is like, 30 mins away...yes I know these are all just excuses but I can't just run out to the garage and check/clean them, I have to plan my day around doing stuff like that and I havnt had time yet.
So in the meantime, I'm trying to collect as much information as I can so when I do have time I can make the most of it. Also, for the off-chance that someone has had this problem and knows a fix.

I do appreciate your input and it is on my list of things to do..do I just use brakleen to clean them?

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[b0i]

I'm having the exact same issues here, what is recommending for cleaning the sensors?

[dparm]

I'm having the exact same issues here, what is recommending for cleaning the sensors?

Available at most auto parts stores.

[S4bro]

OP, did you end up figuring this out?

I have the P2096 code pop up every 150 miles. Would appreciate if you could chime in.

I have FI dp, exhaust and JHM tune

[Quadfreak]

OP, did you end up figuring this out?

I have the P2096 code pop up every 150 miles. Would appreciate if you could chime in.

I have FI dp, exhaust and JHM tune

Yeah, it was just bad O2 sensors.

[S4bro]

Yeah, it was just bad O2 sensors.

Perfect. Thanks

That is what i had streamlined it too as well.