A little background. My girlfriend owns a '99 Honda Accord 4cyl (VTech) with just under 100K miles. The car is throwing an 02 sensor bank 1 code. It is also idling very low and has died on us multiple times in the middle of driving. We took the car in and had the cap, wires, and plugs changed. We replaced one of the 02 sensors (I assume the shop replaced the correct one but who knows). We get the code reset and the check engine light goes away. Minutes later it is back on and the car is still idling low and dying on us. We are getting the same 02 sensor bank 1 code. We had the cat checked and the guy said it's in great shape. I am at a loss as to what to do. Please help and thanks in advance.

I have never worked on a foreign car, but I do all my own work on my Jeep. I would prefer to try some things myself instead of shelling out more money for nothing.


Modified by CWaldrop at 8:49 AM 1/10/2006

 

Apparently they didn't get the bad O2 sensor, or maybe they were both bad. It sounds like your fuel mixture is too rich.

 

Bank 1 is the 0xygen sensor on the exhaust manifold. Easy to replace. Your catalytic converter will show below threshhold. keep an eye on it because they go bad around 100k on your car.

 

We had the cat checked, the guy said it was fine. So you think the shop replaced the wrong 02 sensor?

 

It would be good to know the actual code the sensor is reporting? The description you give of low idle and stalling is not caused by the O2 sensor, the sensor just reports engine conditions. Has any main't ever been done to the car? throttle body clean, check for vacuum leaks, maybe the fuel pressure regulator? The O2 sensor code will say if the engine is running rich or lean.

 

Nothing but routine maintenance done so far. The vehicle has been very reliable and well taken care of. I don't have the actual code numbers in front of me. The fuel pressure regulator was going to be the next thing I checked.


Modified by CWaldrop at 6:26 PM 1/10/2006

 

You should have made the mecanic use OEM Honda oxygen sensor. Bank 1 is definately on exhaust maifold, and Bank 2 is near Cat. converter.

 

I'll take it back and find out. The 02 sensor he put in it was $190.

 

$190!?

What was the damn thing made of... gold? Platinum? Diamonds?

You may want to start doing your own repairs... some mechanics will bend you over and stick a dry d*ck up your *** if they can.

If I were you, I wouldn't go back there... that is unless you like the treatment they give you .

 

Would the code be P1149? I just posted about this in another thread. If that's the code you need to replace the engine computer. Honda has a Service Bulliten referring to this.