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Replacing My O2 Sensors Properly

1843 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  fordman777
<BACKSTORY>
Hello, I own a 2003 Mustang GT with about 112,000 miles. As my name implies, I am as novice as it gets when it comes to this type of car work.
My Check Engine Light came on and I ran a scanner and received the codes: P0174, P0171, and P1151. (*Fuel System too Lean and Lack of HO2S switching and low signal input respectively.)

Tons of research, advice from peers, and experiencing a rough idle engine has led me to believe that the problem lies with my two front O2 sensors. (When driving, the car will lurch and the rpm will fluctuate wildly. If you guys have seen this before and can definitely connect it to the O2 sensors, please let me know).

I have since ordered two front sensors from CJPonyParts. I received a DY-1401 and DY-1039 (*Attached photo) and I'm here to ask if they are the same thing. Is one an updated version of the other and/or will it be detrimental to me if I use both of them?

Lastly, I got under the car today and found an obstacle concerning getting to the passenger-side O2 sensor (*Attached Photo #2). I'm just curious if there is a proper method to go about doing this and/or taking some things apart in the right manner.

I apologize for the long post.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Novice

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Hopefully new sensors fix your issue. There is a lot that goes into properly diagnosing them; you (or somebody competent and capable and with the scanning equipment capable of doing so) need to view several live data parameters - short and long term fuel trims, sensor voltage, MAF sensor values, fuel pressure..... The list goes on. And then also check for other things such as vacuum leak/unmetered air being drawn in, wiring issues, and pretty rare but you can also add faulty PCM to that list.

At this point you are doing your best to make an educated guess. So like I said, hopefully this fixes it. These sensors do go bad, but more often than not they are just doing their job (reporting a lean condition, in your case) and the source of the problem lies elsewhere. The P1151 (not switching) code could definitely be further evidence of a faulty sensor (your P0171/P0174 codes generally are not indicative of a faulty O2 sensor), but essentially what the "not switching" portion of the code description means is that the a/f ratio is so far out of whack that the PCM cannot add or subtract fuel as necessary to correct the condition. Being that you have both banks reporting a lean condition, it's not impossible but I find it hard to believe that both sensors took a crap at the same time.

Anyway, R&R is not too difficult. Except that passenger side, which looks like you've already discovered. If you cannot fit your hand/arm between the floor pan sheet metal and catalytic converter to get to the connector, you may try accessing it from above the engine instead. Either way it is at least slightly difficult and definitely a little cramped as far as space to get your hand in there goes but you should be able to get to it. I hate dealing with that side as well, far from impossible but it's legitimately kind of a b!tch - especially if the little clip that holds the connector to the engine is broken (like on my car, lol) and then you have to make your one hand that can fit in there and reach anything do the job of two hands to hold and line up both connectors and then snap them together. Fun stuff indeed.

And hopefully you aren't trying to remove and install with a regular open-end wrench or crescent wrench. Those can be used, but you'll save yourself a little bit of headache and some cussing if you invest in an O2 sensor wrench or socket to go on your ratchet (yes, they make a specific tool just for these things, and they do make the job a bit easier).

As far as part numbers, it is probably due to them being listed as left or right side specific. It honestly does not matter though, which sensor you place on which side. A common trick used to diagnose a bad sensor when only one bank is reporting lean or rich condition is to swap the sensors and then see if the problem switches over to the other side of the engine - which further proves that left/right orientation and part number don't matter. Some vehicles use sensors that have different pigtail lengths (not applicable to our cars though), so that is why it is common to see specific part numbers for left and right. The sensor itself is identical though.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. Be sure to disconnect the battery "-" terminal while you're working; this will reset the PCM fault codes and also allow it to re-learn air/fuel trim values when you get it all back together.
+1 on above. To add I have sometimes had good luck removing the wheel and accessing through the fender liner.

The first two DTC affect both banks. When trouble shooting situations such as this focus on the things that could affect both banks. MAF and intake vacuum leak for example.

To me it seems like the more important DTC to focus on is the P1151. This list of possible "causes" is fairly long and include a number of "hard" wiring faults as well as the O2 sensor itself on the Front left side (driver's).

But we shouldn't rule out the possibility there's more than one problem. For example a vacuum leak and a wiring problem to the bank 2 sensor.

As for the question about the difference in appearance of the replacement O2 sensors. The Bosch sensors are larger but are solid replacement units. I have used them myself on several cars and have always had good results.

>>From Ford service manual.
P1151 - Lack of HO2S-21 Switch, Sensor Indicates Lean
See Possible Causes for DTC P1130

P1130 - Lack of HO2S-11 Switch, Fuel Trim at Limit

The HEGO Sensor is monitored for switching. The test fails when the HO2S fails to switch due to circuit or fuel at or exceeding a calibrated limit.

Electrical:
Short to VPWR in harness or HO2S
Water in harness connector
Open/Shorted HO2S circuit
Corrosion or poor mating terminals and wiring
Damaged HO2S
Damaged PCM
Fuel System:
Excessive fuel pressure
Leaking/contaminated fuel injectors
Leaking fuel pressure regulator
Low fuel pressure or running out of fuel
Vapor recovery system
Induction System:
Air leaks after the MAF
Vacuum Leaks
PCV system
Improperly seated engine oil dipstick
EGR System:
Leaking gasket
Stuck EGR valve
Leaking diaphragm or EVR
Base Engine:
Oil overfill
Cam timing
Cylinder compression
Exhaust leaks before or near the HO2S(s)
Hopefully new sensors fix your issue. There is a lot that goes into properly diagnosing them; you (or somebody competent and capable and with the scanning equipment capable of doing so) need to view several live data parameters - short and long term fuel trims, sensor voltage, MAF sensor values, fuel pressure..... The list goes on. And then also check for other things such as vacuum leak/unmetered air being drawn in, wiring issues, and pretty rare but you can also add faulty PCM to that list.

At this point you are doing your best to make an educated guess. So like I said, hopefully this fixes it. These sensors do go bad, but more often than not they are just doing their job (reporting a lean condition, in your case) and the source of the problem lies elsewhere. The P1151 (not switching) code could definitely be further evidence of a faulty sensor (your P0171/P0174 codes generally are not indicative of a faulty O2 sensor), but essentially what the "not switching" portion of the code description means is that the a/f ratio is so far out of whack that the PCM cannot add or subtract fuel as necessary to correct the condition. Being that you have both banks reporting a lean condition, it's not impossible but I find it hard to believe that both sensors took a crap at the same time.

Anyway, R&R is not too difficult. Except that passenger side, which looks like you've already discovered. If you cannot fit your hand/arm between the floor pan sheet metal and catalytic converter to get to the connector, you may try accessing it from above the engine instead. Either way it is at least slightly difficult and definitely a little cramped as far as space to get your hand in there goes but you should be able to get to it. I hate dealing with that side as well, far from impossible but it's legitimately kind of a b!tch - especially if the little clip that holds the connector to the engine is broken (like on my car, lol) and then you have to make your one hand that can fit in there and reach anything do the job of two hands to hold and line up both connectors and then snap them together. Fun stuff indeed.

And hopefully you aren't trying to remove and install with a regular open-end wrench or crescent wrench. Those can be used, but you'll save yourself a little bit of headache and some cussing if you invest in an O2 sensor wrench or socket to go on your ratchet (yes, they make a specific tool just for these things, and they do make the job a bit easier).

As far as part numbers, it is probably due to them being listed as left or right side specific. It honestly does not matter though, which sensor you place on which side. A common trick used to diagnose a bad sensor when only one bank is reporting lean or rich condition is to swap the sensors and then see if the problem switches over to the other side of the engine - which further proves that left/right orientation and part number don't matter. Some vehicles use sensors that have different pigtail lengths (not applicable to our cars though), so that is why it is common to see specific part numbers for left and right. The sensor itself is identical though.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. Be sure to disconnect the battery "-" terminal while you're working; this will reset the PCM fault codes and also allow it to re-learn air/fuel trim values when you get it all back together.
Me and a friend of mine were able to successfully switch out the O2 sensors. However the engine light came back on not too long afterwards. We went and got the codes scanned again and received the same codes. On the bright side, the old O2 sensors were looking rough, so we were able to solve one of the issues.

During the time of the original post^, there was a very subtle "whistling" noise whenever driving around in it and I shrugged it off to focus on the O2 issue like a fool. The whistle has become more noticeable since I've last posted and my friend suggested that it might be a vacuum leak.

I've 0 to no experience in fixing a vacuum leak should that be the case. Any tips on how to tackle a leak/ saving money whilst doing it?

Thanks,

Novice.
Finding vacuum leaks on these cars usually isn't too difficult.

1) You mentioned you can hear a whistling noise with the engine running. This is good and should help you to narrow it down, go open the hood and start listening for what area of the engine it's coming from.

2) Focus on the upper manifold plenum. Basically everything vacuum related is attached to it. So one at a time, inspect every line coming off of it, follow where it goes.

3) If visual in section turns up noting obvious, get a can of carburetor cleaner spray. Engine idling, give short little blasts to any areas of potential vacuum leaks - lines, fittings, the mating surface where the intake manifold bolts to the cylinder head, etc. As you are doing this, listen to the engine; if anywhere you spray that stuff and the engine responds by an increase in idle speed then you just found a leak.
Go buy you a black and mild cigar "if you or someone you know vaps even better". Pop the iac hose off the cold air intake, remove the cai from the throttle body, now place a latex glove over the throttle body. "If your iac has a vent you will have to pop the black cap off and hold a finger over it. Now blow smoke in this tube until you see smoke coming from around the intake/vacuum lines. If none is seen after blowing in the hose for about 5 mins then not likely to be a vacuum leak.

I've been there on hunting a vacuum leak and that trick I explained works just as well as a smoke machine that automotive shops use.
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