Reocuuring P2096 Error code

[RobF]

Help please. I am out of ideas on how to stop an occasional reoccurring CEL with a P2096 ( Post catalyst fuel trim system too lean bank 1) error code on my 2003 2.7 Boxster, FSH 72K miles.

I have owned the car nearly two years. The car has always been well maintained and is running beautifully throughout this period. Everything is working exactly as it should be.
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The CEL/ P2096 code pops up every 150-200 miles or so, which is easy enough to clear using my Foxwell OBD2 tool, but is annoying me.

So I have on 2 occasions put it in to a highly respected local Porsche Indy, to investigate and fix.

On the first occasion, about a year and 1500 miles ago, the 4 O2 sensors were replaced with new Bosch sensors. This did not stop the occasional CEL problem.

So last week the Indy spent a couple of days checking every possible other cause, including:
- live diagnostics and live data -pass, no strange readings
- fuel rails checked and pressures checked - pass
- manometer check on vacuum system - pass,
- full visual check of exhaust system, cold and hot - pass
- spark plugs removed and inspected, no evidence of lean running on either bank, nor any injector issues
- O2 sensor wiring checks - pass; and plug connectors checked cleaned
- air filter check -pass
- Engine bay pipework inspection - pass
- smoke tests of intake system, vacuum system, AOS, Exhaust system warm & cold - pass
- Fuel cap and oil cap seals, fuel vent check - pass
- MAF sensor inspected - pass, and cleaned

We assume the CATs are ok as there are no emissions issues.

To rub salt in the would the CEL light came on again on my drive home from the Indy.

Am loathe to give up and accept that this P2096 code is may be an unsolvable "ghost" or random "cable-earth" cause, so thought I would ask this forum, anybody else had this issue and if so what was your fix please?

Rob (in South Wales)

[JFP in PA]

The most common fault causing P2096 are small exhaust system leaks. If the car were in my shop, I would smoke test that bank's exhaust system for very small leaks.

I know you commented that you had the system tested, I would test it again, very carefully and with the system disconnected and plugged as the leaks can be incredibly small.

[Pringle86]

P2096 can be frustrating because it is often intermittent and can slip past basic tests. I would still check for a small exhaust leak after the pre-cat O2 sensor since it may only show when hot, watch live O2 readings over a longer drive for any slow or drifting response and if that looks normal, consider a bank 1 injector balance issue under load as a possible cause.

[RobF]

Many thanks for the two suggestions so far.

I appreciate the exhaust leak suggestions as forum research tell me it is usually the probable cause, but two different garages have had the car on their ramps and thoroughly inspected the whole exhaust system, both cold and hot, with the Indy also doing a thorough smoke test on the exhaust system. The Indy said sometimes the exhaust clamps can be overtightened forming a slight ovaling of the pipe under the clamps, but not in this cars case.

I have only ever used my Foxwell NT510 to clear the intermittent P2096 code, so I will investigate if I can use it to monitor the O2 live readings or injector balancing.

[RobF]

Thank you both for your comments.

Regretfully my 2003 2.7 boxster's intermittent P2096 error remains unresolved, still re-occurring every 200-250 miles

With the all the work and tests done to date, the upside is the knowledge that my car has a squeaky clean bill of good engine health.... no "real" lean running at all.But I am not happy with this, and am determined to get it resolved, so my quest continues.

My latest forums research has thrown up this potential fix:

"DME Software Anomaly (2003-2004 Models): If you are driving an early 986 model year (2003–2004), a known software bug in the engine computer (DME) can falsely trigger the P2096 code. If the sensor tests normal, a trip to a specialist to update the DME fuel maps may be necessary."

Hence this post and my question please, has anyone on this forum has the DME update done on their 2.7 Boxster by their Porsche dealer or any other specialist, and did it resolve their issue?

TIA, Rob