Will it pass

[Jamie]

I have a 2000 boxster with 110,000 miles on it. I was getting a CEL error for about a year!!! I just replaced the MAF (fixed it) the plugs, air filter, oil change. I reset the codes and she is driving like a dream.

Just for fun I hooked the code scanner up and it came back with two codes P1115 and P1119 CEL off. I know both code relate to the O2 senor heating element. My question is, with the error code and no CEL will I still be able to pass inspections here in Texas? Why is my CEL set to off if I have error codes? Does this really mean I have something wrong with the O2 senor?

[Dave928]

if your MAF was bad enough, the fuel trim could be so rich that it damages the 02 sensors.

[pk2]

Agree with Dave928. O2's sensors can be barely working. I can't speak to Texas smog but I would just replace them. No CEL out here doesn't mean you'll pass. You'll probably have to replace soon anyway. By the universal replacement on amazon for about $65 a pop.

Regards, PK

[mikefocke]

There are about 4 levels of O2 sensors you can buy:

From most expensive to least:
- Porsche branded
- Bosch with pigtails attached by a very expensive machine ($100k+) and tested..the exact part Porsche buys and reboxes
- Bosh without pigtails. You crimp on your old wires and good luck
- universal which may or may not give out the same signals the Porsche ECM is expecting and requires you to crimp the wires

No you can't solder.

Any muffler shop can do the install if you don't want to, mine cost a half hour in labor...about 5 minutes on the rack. Using the Bosch part with pigtails takes the risk out of the crimping and the part is known to work. The universals are much more problematic and to save such little $ just didn't seem worth the risk to me. No sense paying extra for the Porsche part number spray painted on the Bosch part.

Smog tests usually test for pending codes...problems that are there but haven't gotten bad enough to trigger a CEL yet.

A table of part numbers is here