P0097: Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Low Bank 1

What it means

The Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 circuit signal for Bank 1 is lower than expected.

At a glance

• Usually lights the check-engine light
• Affects emissions; the car can fail an emissions test

How it works

Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 measures intake-air temperature at a second sensing point, which varies by vehicle. The control module sets P0097 when the Sensor 2 signal is lower than expected, commonly because the signal wire is shorted to ground or the connection has excessive resistance.

Common causes

Most likely first.

1. Signal wire shorted to ground
2. Connector pins corroded - high contact resistance
3. Harness chafing through insulation

Symptoms

• Check engine light on
• Poor fuel economy
• Rough idle or hesitation
• Hard starting in some conditions

How to diagnose it

1. Check freeze-frame and live Sensor 2 data to see whether the reading is implausibly low or changed when the fault occurred.
2. Locate Sensor 2 and inspect its connector and harness for chafing, crushed insulation, corrosion, or moisture that could pull the signal low.
3. Check connector terminals for poor contact or corrosion and confirm the plug is fully seated.
4. Following the wiring diagram, test the Sensor 2 signal wire for a short to ground and check circuit continuity to the manufacturer's specification.
5. If the circuit passes, test Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 and its reference and ground circuits using the manufacturer's procedure.

Common fixes

• Repair a Sensor 2 signal wire that is shorted to ground.
• Clean or replace corroded terminals and restore a secure connector fit.
• Repair chafed or damaged Sensor 2 wiring.
• Replace Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 if it fails circuit testing.

Can I keep driving?

If the engine runs normally, this code is usually not an immediate reason to stop, though fuel economy or starting may suffer. Limit driving if hesitation or rough running makes traffic or merging unsafe.