car_forum_user

Hi, I got the following on getting my 98 Accord (EX 4 Cylinder) check engine light read at an autozone:

At the top, it says:

"... Most likely solution is Replace Engine Control Module (ECM)"

Followed by:

"Definition
p1164 - The PCM detected the heated oxygen sensor 1 signal did not switch (remained ? lean ?) for a predetermined period of time"

"Error Codes Read
P1166 HO2S (B1) (S1) Heater Failure
P1167 HO2S S1 Heater Failure"

Kindly suggest next steps. Is this going to be costly to repair ?
The check engine light has been ON for some time (is not going away by detaching the battery etc), and I am not going to pass the smog test with it. I need to get the Smog passed within 4-5 days.

Should I try to get this repaired (what exactly needs to be repaired ? and what would be a cost estimate ?) ? California has a cash for clunkers that can probably get me $ 1000 for the car. The KBB value for the car would be about $ 1400 or so I think.

Thanks a lot for your help.

holmesnmanny

Normally this is just the upstream oxygen sensor is bad. Pick up a Denso oxygen sensor and an oxygen sensor socket. Remove the old, add a little bit of the anti-seize that comes with the oxygen sensor to the middle 4 or 5 threads of the oxygen sensor. Install it, clear the codes. See if the codes come back.

car_forum_user

Thanks a lot. I will try to do this.

By the way, you mention doing this and then "clear the codes". Do you mean clear the codes manually using some scan reader from Autozone etc ? Or do you mean "do all this, and the codes should automatically be cleared". Or something else ?

Thanks again.

user456101

It is best to take the battery terminal off before removing any electronics, like the old O2 sensor in this case, and/or installing the new one. If you do this, it will also clear the codes. Disconnecting the battery clears codes, on this car at least. If you've already replaced it and/or don't want to remove the battery terminal, you can take the car to an auto parts store and most likely they will let you use their loaner scan tool for free and you can clear the codes with it.