I recently purchased a new to me 2006 Mini Cooper S, my first new to me car in 21 years. After driving a 1970 and 1978 Chevrolets all this code stuff is very confusing. I love my Mini but driving home at -40 below the service engine soon light came on but the car was still running perfectly. I had the code pulled and it was P2096. I am 3000+ miles from a dealer and buying it used I`m not sure I would even have any warranty although it only has 17000 miles on it. I got the light turned off thinking it was just a cold problem but after about 30 miles and another -25 below drive it came back on. Now I`m not sure what to do next being here where there is no dealer. Any suggestions? I am also new to this forum any to Minis so any help would be appeciated. Alice

 

sounds like a O2 sensor problem. Not sure if it's related to cold temperature.

 

you should still be under warranty btw

 

Where are you located?

 

North Pole, Alaska.

 

Have you tried for a Canadian dealer, by any chance? Don't know about the warranty, but could be closer :dunno:

Lowest temp I've seen on mine is -22F, didn't have any issues...

 

P2096 can have many causes (I have had this code 5 times, there is also a TSB on it). That said the general theme seems to be some sort of leak in the intake track. In my cases it has been leaky intercooler boots, leaky bypass valve (air was leaking into the valve not past it), cracked intake toob (goes between the trottle and the superchrager.

 

Here is a thread on 2096. I had the code but it turned out it was due to an O2 sensor spacer. From what it looks like it could be a number of different things.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-bank-1-a.html

 

I am printing all this info and I`m going to take it to a tech, hopefully I can find one here that has some Mini experience. If anyone has any other thoughts I`d be happy to hear them. Thank you all so far. Alice

 

Hey Alice,

I know it's 350 miles from you, but in Anchorage there is a shop called Accurate Import Center that services my 06 Mini. The only shop I know that has trained Mini mechanics in Anchorage that I have found.

 

I know this is an old thread on the P2096 code.


Here is what I did to correct mine.


1. checked O2 sensors.
2. checked for vacuum leaks by idling and spraying all the lines with card cleaner.
3. Pressurized the exhaust with compressor and sprayed all joints with soapy water
I found a large leak bubbly leak at the header collector tube (4 into 1) right in front of the forward O2 sensor.
4. I pulled the header and would have had to cut it apart to weld it.
5. bought a new header cat fro www.rockauto.com
6. installed the header.


The MIL light extinguished and I reset the computer and the light has stayed out.

 

Wow, arzenmaster, you joined in 2009 and have 1 post just recently in 2014 with pretty much exactly a procedure that I followed before I also joined the forum! Thanks for reviving the thread!

How long did it take for your p2096 code and SES light to go away once you did the fix? I also had a vacuum leak (FPR regulator hose came off the bung under the intercooler, I'm hoping that was the only leak).

Thanks!