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Car Forum / Lexus Cars / January 2009P0135: O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
I live in Austin and own a 2001 LS 430 that I bought last year. For the most part, the car has run beautifully; credit to the gentleman that owned it before me. I took the car in for a state inspection the other day and it failed it -- the fault code was P0135: O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1). I do remember my mechanic (Bearden Automotive) mentioned a few months ago that one of my sensors was out and I should get it replaced if I wanted the car to pass inspection -- at the time, I (foolishly) ignored that. I'd like to get this fixed but I'm trying to save as much money as I can on it. I think I remember being quoted about $350-365 to fix the problem by my mechanic. Is that within the ballpark of what others have paid? How hard would it be to replace the sensor myself? >I live in Austin and own a 2001 LS 430 that I bought last year. For > the most part, the car has run beautifully; credit to the gentleman [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > problem by my mechanic. Is that within the ballpark of what others > have paid? How hard would it be to replace the sensor myself? The price sounds about right. It should not be too difficult to replace the senor yourself, especially since Austin (I assume Texas) is not in the rust belt. Unplug the senor, unscrew the sensor, and reverse the process. If you decide to go with an aftermarket sensor, be sure to get one that has the correct connector already installed instead of getting one that requires splicing wires. If the old sensor doesn't come out easily, do not force it because you may end up purchasing an exhaust manifold as well. Spray some penetrating fluid like PB blaster, let it sit for a few hours, spray it some more, let it sit some more, and then try removing the old sensor. After you install the new sensor, you will have to drive the car for a couple of days to get the computer's readiness monitor to be set for the emissions test.  SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) This is a 4.3L 3UZFE engine. Should cost as little as ~$60 to get it fixed if you're mechanically inclined. Both upstream and downstream sensors (#15733) are as low as $56.79+shipping on www.rockauto.com. This is a Bosch planar type "universal" sensor which you have to cut and splice on the old connector. Follow the instructions and you should be fine. The type with the connector on there costs $20 more each, but looks like you'll get a reboxed thimble from Denso (Bosch is both a supplier and a one- source parts redistributor). http://www.boschautoparts.com/Products/OxygenSensors/PlanarO2 Personally I'd much prefer the the Bosch universal even though you have to splice, because it's a new generation of planar sensors. The design means they are more resistant to contamination and "light up" faster than traditional thimble types. You can borrow the sensor socket from Autozone using their free loaner tool program. Or pick up one for $3.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97177 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95045 > I live in Austin and own a 2001 LS 430 that I bought last year. For > the most part, the car has run beautifully; credit to the gentleman [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > problem by my mechanic. Is that within the ballpark of what others > have paid? How hard would it be to replace the sensor myself? Guys, thanks for the input. I ordered a sensor on rockauto.com; my mechanic actually asked me to stay away from Bosch so I ended up buying a DENSO (Part # 2344167). Cost me $110 with shipping. Maybe I should've just gotten the Bosch. Anyways, the part should be here on Fri so I'll give it a go and try and replace it myself. I've gotta locate the darn thing first! I think I may have to get under to car to get to it. Also I'm wondering why it is an hour of labor at the mechanic's -- seems like a straight-forward thing to do. Should it really take a seasoned mechanic an hour? On Dec 15, 8:37 pm, johngd...@hotmail.com wrote: > This is a 4.3L 3UZFE engine. Should cost as little as ~$60 to get it > fixed if you're mechanically inclined. [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > problem by my mechanic. Is that within the ballpark of what others > > have paid? How hard would it be to replace the sensor myself? Guys, thanks for the input. I ordered a sensor on rockauto.com; my mechanic actually asked me to stay away from Bosch so I ended up buying a DENSO (Part # 2344167). Cost me $110 with shipping. Maybe I should've just gotten the Bosch. Anyways, the part should be here on Fri so I'll give it a go and try and replace it myself. I've gotta locate the darn thing first! I think I may have to get under to car to get to it. Also I'm wondering why it is an hour of labor at the mechanic's -- seems like a straight-forward thing to do. Should it really take a seasoned mechanic an hour? ******************* Bank 1 is the cylinder bank that contains cylinder # 1. I believe that it is on the passenger side (left side from the perspective of standing in front of the vehicle). I've never looked for the sensor, but it will either be in the exhaust manifold or in the exhaust pipe close to the manifold. If you have to reach it from under the car, you will probably have to remove the shield under the engine. The flat rate time includes time to remove stuck O2 sensors that have rusted in place. SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) On Dec 15, 8:37 pm, johngd...@hotmail.com wrote: Update on the O2 sensor -- I bought one on RockAuto and had a friend replace it. All in all, it costed me $110 (parts) + $60 (labor). And yeah...it did pass inspection yesterday. On Dec 17, 11:16 pm, "Ray O" <rokig...@NOSPAMtristarassociates.com> wrote: > Guys, thanks for the input. I ordered a sensor on rockauto.com; my > mechanic actually asked me to stay away from Bosch so I ended up [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > (correct punctuation to reply) > On Dec 15, 8:37 pm, johngd...@hotmail.com wrote: Update on the O2 sensor -- I bought one on RockAuto and had a friend replace it. All in all, it costed me $110 (parts) + $60 (labor). And yeah...it did pass inspection yesterday. ********** Thanks for the update! SignatureRay O (correct punctuation to reply) Good to hear that solved it. Once on the rack it takes a couple of minutes to change out most oxygen sensors. But there are cases as mentioned such as sensors rusted to the exhaust, etc. Mechanics work off "book rates", where there is a standard time for *inexperienced* mechanic to properly replace a part. Seasoned ones of course take much less. Toyota's warranty payout rate is so little I think they assume only good senior techs. As mentioned, the OEM-connector from Bosch looks like a reboxed Denso, because Bosch (like AC Delco, Fel-Pro, Moog, Timken and others) are single-source distributors too. But if the cheaper Denso thimble works for the mechanic then it's fine. > Guys, thanks for the input. I ordered a sensor on rockauto.com; my > mechanic actually asked me to stay away from Bosch so I ended up [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > mechanic's -- seems like a straight-forward thing to do. Should it > really take a seasoned mechanic an hour? |
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