Now im getting frustrated! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

RandallNeighbour · 02-13-2006, 08:06 PM

super easy and you're certainly due. They're to be changed at 60k.

www.oxygensensors.com

OEM Bosch sensors with the right connectors for $119 each or something close to that. If you have a floor jack, you can do it with normal tools and some grunting and at least one bloody knuckle in 45 minutes.

A $10 02 sensor offset slotted socket made it really easy for me.

Change out all four (required) plus your MAF and you should be CE light free for a long, long time. Plus, you'll get better fuel economy and possibly more power if you disconnect your battery afterwards for about a half hour or less. (this makes the DME recalibrate the system, which includes rough idling for a little while).

blinkwatt · 02-13-2006, 08:17 PM

If I do not have the funds for all four is it possible that I run a month or two with 3 old and one brand new? Is it possible that just the o2 sensor wiring should be check ed to make nothing came loose? Does anyone have any directions on accessing the o2 sensors,more specifically taking them off and reconnecting?

RandallNeighbour · 02-13-2006, 08:23 PM

One brand new one will be overly sensitive and the others dull, making for lousy fuel economy, really bad performance, more CE lights and who knows what. I guess it's possible, but I've been warned over and over by my own mechanic and people on lists everywhere not to do it.

Drive the car "as is" if you can, grit your teeth every time you see that CE light, and save up enough to swap out all four asap.

Thank goodness you don't have to change these out all the time, huh?

RandallNeighbour · 02-13-2006, 08:25 PM

Taking them off is easy. Unscrew them.

But, you have to unplug them first, and this is done by carefully putting the blade of a flathead screwdriver into the locking side of the connector and twisting to get it to pop the male part out of the receptacle. It really is quite easy, and when you get your new ones you'll see how to open them up and you'll say "duh, that's no big deal"

blinkwatt · 02-13-2006, 08:48 PM

I can physically see the sensors but where do the wires run to?

RandallNeighbour · 02-13-2006, 08:57 PM

Up to where they plug in! On the back ones, you'll have to peel back the heat shield to see the plugs. On the front ones, there is no heat shield and you should be able to see the plugs with a flashlight.

xclusivecar · 02-13-2006, 08:57 PM

Swap all 4!!!!!!! Not doing so will keep the CEL on. Trust me...I went through this very recently.

blinkwatt · 02-13-2006, 10:50 PM

How long could I last with CEL P0134 on without damaging the car? Im not cheap or trying to push it off but I dont have money to spend after several purschases,rear speaker kit,MAF and a whole bunch of CDs(I wouldnt have bought the kit and CDs if I would have known this would happen). With code P0134 stating 02 Sensor CKT No Activity(Bank 1 Sensor 1)),should I check to see if the plug came loose first before ordering a new set? After my new MAF shows up should I install it clear the CEL and see if P0134 comes back on?

Steve986online · 02-14-2006, 06:07 AM

When Your Ready Blinkwatt I Have Oem O2 Sensors At $115 Or Universal O2 At $89 The Universal Need To Be Spliced Into Existing Harness

MNBoxster · 02-14-2006, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

How long could I last with CEL P0134 on without damaging the car? Im not cheap or trying to push it off but I dont have money to spend after several purschases,rear speaker kit,MAF and a whole bunch of CDs(I wouldnt have bought the kit and CDs if I would have known this would happen). With code P0134 stating 02 Sensor CKT No Activity(Bank 1 Sensor 1)),should I check to see if the plug came loose first before ordering a new set? After my new MAF shows up should I install it clear the CEL and see if P0134 comes back on?

Hi,

Certainly you should determine if it's a wiring problem or a Faulty O² Sensor because if it's in the wiring, a new Sensor won't fix it. Do you have a multimeter? If so, you can check continuity. With the Sensors removed, you can Bench Test these as well (see my previous post on Testing O² Sensors). If you have exceeded, or are approaching 60k mi., replacement is a good idea anyway.

So far as driving the car with the issue present, you won't be helping the Car. The DME will go into a default MAP, running rich, on adjusted Timing. The Car's Performance and MPG will suffer. In addition, the less than optimal A/F Mixture can potentially cause damage to the Cats (Much more expensive than a couple pair of O² Sensors).

It used to be that to an extent, you could ignore a Faulty Emissions System. But, in Today's Cars, the systems are so intertwined that all sorts of negative effects can be realized. Get it fixed as soon as you are able. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99