Oxygen Sensor Warning Light
 

If I go ahead and change my oxygen sensors myself (seems like a do it yourself according to this site's instructions/forum) -- what will I need to do re: the warning light? Will it reset itself once the sensor in installed or do I need to visit the dealer and have them connect to a computer check system and have them reset?

thanks/Kelly

If you are talking about the check engine light. Disconnect the car battery for about 15 minutes and it will reset.

Or buy a diagnostic tool to reset it...

Hey Kelly,

Yeah, it's a good DIY. Just be patient and take your time....and don't forget....safety first! (gotta add that one)

As for the CEL: if you do it Gary's way don't forget your radio code.

A second option would be to just go to your local Autozone or carparts store and have them reset it once you've completed your install. They will do it for free.

A third option would be to have a forum member close by help you out. Anyone out there willing to lend a hand??

A fourth option (as Iowa S suggested) would be to invest in an OBD II reader from flea bay and read/reset it yourself. I have not made that investment since my brother has one, so I just use his. But I know there's a few folks out there that can chime in to help you out with that purchase if you chose that route.

Good luck with that!:cheers:

Thanks!
 

Thanks everyone for your assistance, all great input. Kelly.

Hey guys, are you sure your O2 sensors are bad? Have you tested them? They are designed to trip a CEL if they sense a mixture problem beyond what the DME can compensate. If you have not yet read the codes/tested the sensors you may be shooting the messenger instead of fixing the problem. Food for thought.

Yes, sorry, forget to mention - the dealer noted at my 70,000 mi service that it was in need of replacement. I chose to save the $425 ridiculous amount they were asking to do replace it -- the $799 for the service was enough.

Thanks for pointing out/Kelly

Dealers will often tell you that you need new O2's when you get a CEL. Mine said I needed all four at $1200. They were wrong. It was a bad MAF. I fixed it myself. 6000 miles later and no more CEL... car runs like new.

What error codes did they get?

Kelly:

You can avoid wasting more money by buying the Bosch 02 sensors, rather than the "Porsche" 02 sensors, which are made by Bosch. There is no difference (other than the packaging, and sometimes a 986 part number stamped on it) whatsoever between the two if you get Bosch part number 13806. It has the identical connector with no modification needed.

The last time I bought one from ************************************************************, the Bosch 02 sensor even had the Porsche part number stamped on it. Less than 1/2 the price the dealer wants.

After you get the car up safely on jackstands, it's a piece of cake. Picture unscrewing a bolt from some threads which are mounted on the side of a metal tube, and screwing another one back on. It's that simple, coupled with disconnecting and reconnecting the electrical connection.

Regards, Maurice.

Smartguys
 

Follow up question:

Do I need 2 or 4 replacement sensors. Many auto parts stores online say 4 per car?

thanks/Kelly

Code
 

They did not tell me the code, just that they needed replacement.

If your CEL is still on, take your car to Autozone and they will read your codes for free. Report back here. Without knowing the codes and model yr we are just shooting in the dark. :confused:

The pre-cat sensors see a much more harsh environment from a contamination standpoint than the downstream sensors. They are also the only ones that will actually effect the air/fuel mixture. The downstream sensors just tell the DME if the cats are working correctly. You might try replacing just the upstream pair first and see if that fixes your problem.

throwing parts
 

Dont throw parts at it...

Look make the investment and get you a diagnostic tool so you can read the codes....and if you dont have one, get a Bentley manual.

I got my code reader off of EBAY. A CAN ODBII reader...

It can read all of the codes and with the bentley manual you can look up the Porsche codes.

Although my mechanic tell me that he has changed out very few O2 sensors because he has found air and vaccum leaks and also MAF problems...

However, in my case I had the 1053 and the 1276 code which pointed directly to one sensor.....$114 dollars it cost me for the OEM replacement...

But dont throw parts at it, it will only frustrate you more.

Chris
:cheers:

A step by step
 

guide is available here .

1. Get codes, determine the one that is failing. Replace only that one.

2. Use OEM Bosch part, not Porsche part. For part numbers, see guide.

3. Either do it yourself or have local muffler shop replace for about a half hour labor.

I did 1, 2 and 3b (because I was moving and in a hurry) and am happy and richer several thousand miles later.

Vacum leaks CEL
 

Does any one know of common cels related to vacum leaks?

If my memory serves me correctly, Blinkwatt is the fella you might want to ask about a vacuum leak. I believe he had one a while back, don't recall if he had associated CELs with it.

Maybe he'll chime in here for ya.....Blink?? :cheers:

car in shop
 

Thanks any suggestions or fixes for vacum leaks would be helpful. Car has been in a local shop here in ATLANTA and the technician replaced the oil filler tube o2 sensor and mass airflow meter and it is still throwing three codes..

codes
 

What are the codes?

codes
 

unfortunately i dont have the codes because the care is in the shop drove the car for two years with no cels. put the car in for a rear crank seal replace and oil filler tube replace/then started throwing codes. The tech thinks they are related to a vacum leak.

smartguys, here's my advice on you O2 sensor issue:

Don't replace one or two. All four should be replaced by the time a boxster has 60k on the odometer. Replacing a couple of them only confuses the DME, with two having great sensitivity and the other two being dull in sensory capacity due to carbon build up.

When one goes, it throws off the DME and can cause the readers to show a bad MAF when it's not a bad MAF at all. This happened to me a while back.

www.oxygensensors.com has Bosch units for sale for something like $109 each and the connectors are correct. You'll need a O2 sensor tool that you can buy at Sears for $10 bucks.

Replacing all four at 60k has many benefits...

1) your MPG will go up, sometimes dramatically.
2) performance will go up too.
3) your wallet is much lighter, preventing back problems you're experiencing with so much extra cash in it.

I could feel a noticeable difference in low rpm torque after I did it and the engine idle was far more stable.

Best $450 I ever spent on the car. It's more fun to drive and it's paying me back each time I fill up with better fuel economy.

Air Leak
 

Randall I dont know about your model of car but my Bosch O2 sensor was 166 bucks. But your points have merit.

JJ your mechanic is correct, Not discussed much but the cause of most codes thrown is a vaccum or air leak in the system. My mechanic confirms this and has told me that very few times has he had to replace the O2 sensor.

But everyones car has its own personality and reacts differently.

If you knew the codes and shared them with this community, some of us can share
the wealth of info to help you..The porsche community has never come up short in that area for me.

Chris

Hey JJ,

Found something during my morning perusal that might be useful for you: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18198&hl=

(re: sign in / register to view the page)

As Dohertycm suggested, do post the codes! :cheers:

My bad. Should have research current pricing... $141 for Bosch today via the web site, but I bought four and the guy who owns this site gave me a good discount...

http://www.automedicsupply.com/catalog.php?&pkey=1263798

Walker brand, with the correct wiring harness, is only $113. Don't know the quality of Walker, but I bet it's all the same stuff wired up by different companies.

I purchased Walkers (changed all four O2 sensors) and a year later with over 800 miles--- still no CEL. :dance:

...yup, same guy I used as per Randall. Standup guy--one of my sensors clips were defective and I returned it to him and he sent me a new one.

O2 Sensor Cel Codes
 

Guys here are the codes that my car is thowing
P1117
p1121
P0160

Buy the way the mechanic replaced on of the after cat o2 sensors. Do you think they should all be replaced

:cool:

And the year, mileage , model, trans? This should help:
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=13202&hl=P0160

02 related codes
 

Thanks do you know what the solution to the other string was?

My car is a 1998 2.5L 5 speed with 100K

The other driver never said but it sounded like loose/incorrect/burned wiring to the sensors. Get you car up in the air and have a look. Over on renntech you can search further or lookup the wiring diagrams to the sensors.