I am confused. I have P0141 code and need to change a downstream oxygen sensor. I am trying to get the right one. Some part dealers tell me I need a California emission version, others say non-California. I emailed to Denso, the OEM manufacturer of the sensor, and got a response: "I would order p/n 234-4363", which is a California version. I stopped by Honda dealership and they said I need non-California. The car is registered in NJ. The under-hood sticker says:

Vehicle emission control information
This vehicle conforms to US EPA tier 2 bin 5 regulations
applicable to 2006 model year new passenger cars and
California regulations applicable to 2006 model year new
LEV II LEV passenger cars.

So, do I need a California emission model of the sensor or non-California and what is the difference? Thanks for your help.

 

Did you give the dealship the VIN number or just ' 06 Accord' ?
That's pretty telling. ULEV and LEV vehciles will have different fuel strategies as well as components. The O2 sensors can be very different depending on model.
Go to http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...artsSearch.jsp and enter your VIN number in the third box. This will give you the definitive part your car needs, as it bases the parts off the VIN(what the car actually is) not what a counter monkey may interpret as it needing.

The main difference is that a ULEV vehicle use a Wide Band O2 sensor rather than the more typical narrow band O2 sensor. Wide Band Sensors are much more accurate in their response and monitoring of the exhaust gases. Unlike a typical narrow band that only triggers a 'rich' or 'lean' flag to the processor, the WBO2 will monitor actual O2 output. On ULEV vehicles this is a critical component in correctly maintaining power, economy, and emissions performance.

FWIW, Denso may not be the OEM for this O2. NGK/NTK may be the OEM.

 

Thanks for explanations, Michael.

Yes, I gave Honda dealership the VIN number.

As you suggested, I went to *http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com and searched by VIN number. It returned two results:
36532-RAD-L12 SENSOR, OXYGEN $218
36532-RAA-A02 SENSOR, OXYGEN (DENSO) $70

When I search the same web site by car model, it shows 36532-RAD-L12 for KL emission type (California) and 36532-RAA-A02 for KA (non-California). The result is the same on www.hondapartsnow.com

So, I still don't know what the right option for me is.

 

Are you going to have the dealer install it or are you installing it yourself. If decide to go with the non-California one and have it installed by the dealer the dealer should be able to warranty it within a certain amount of time and mileage in the case of a check engine light since they recommended it as a replacement part for your car.

 

Silly question, but when I check ISIS, P0401 is a code for EGR insufficient flow, not downstream O2 failure, did you check with the dealer on the code? Normally a clean out of the ports solves most issues. Is this a V6 or 4 cyl Accord. The state your car is registered in has no bearing on what the car came equipped with (ie: emission requirements).

 

Steve@Spreen,
I am sorry, my mistake. The code is P0141 (I am fixing it now in the original post). It is secondary HO2S12 (bank 1 sensor 2).

wolfy47,
I want to install it myself. Finally, I have a house and a garage. Now I can enjoy doing it myself. Plus, I don't have to throw away $240 the dealer charges for half-an-hour work. And the part is almost twice as expensive from the dealer.

 

Perhaps you can speak with one of the local stores of your situation and find out the return policy if the recommended sensor does not work. Although they can pull the "It wasnt installed by a "professional"" card. Just make it clear that you are installing it.

Or you can buy both and use one and if it throws a code, just swap it out for the other, rebox it up, and and return it.

 

Have you tried going to hondaownerslink.com, enter your VIN, and see if the information is in the specifications?

 

 

P042O
06 ACCORD

 

Thank you for your advices, everybody. I asked local dealer and an online dealer. Both gave me part # 36532-RAA-A02 based on VIN. So, I gave it a try. Installed it last weekend, reset the code and no problem since then.

I think I was wrong when said the work takes half an hour. In a dealership, with a lift and all tools available, it should be 15 minutes.