Help ! 98 Camry check engine problem! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

hqfking · 05-16-2009, 04:07 PM

Hi guys,

My 98 camry's check engine light is on yesterday when i was on highway

. I went to Autozone to read the code, and the code is P1133.

The information from the Autozone says:

Air/Fuel Sensor circuit response. (bank 1 sensor 1)
Probable cause
1. open or short circuit condition
2. poor electrical connection

Is the problem serious? How much does it cost to repair it? Please give me some advice.

Thanks very much for your help.

hill8570 · 05-16-2009, 06:27 PM

The oxygen sensor (air-fuel sensor) upstream of the catalytic converter is toast (or, somewhat unlikely, the cable or connector from the A/F sensor is toast). Yes, it's serious -- without the A/F sensor, your gas mileage will suffer, and you potentially could ruin your catalytic converter over time.

Is this a 4-banger or 6-banger? Parts cost is going to be roughly $100-$150 (sparkplugs.com), labor should be pretty low, since this sensor is easily accessable.

hqfking · 05-16-2009, 08:01 PM

it's a 4 cylinder car.

where is the location of the sensor? I may check the sensor status by myself first!

Thank you very much, hill8570.

hqfking · 05-16-2009, 08:04 PM

And the parts is different between the california emission and non-california emission. How would i know that my car is with california emission or not?

***projektvertx*** · 05-16-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hqfking

And the parts is different between the california emission and non-california emission. How would i know that my car is with california emission or not?

Well, the answer is simple... If your'e not in Cali, then no cali emissions... To what I understood, the part itself isn't different, it's simple the tolerable range of the device i.e. it has a narrower range of acceptable values, making it more sensitive and more likely to thrown the CEL at you... Please don't come chasing after me if you buy the cali certified one and it doesn't work...

Also, since the first one gave way, the second one might be nearing the end of it's uselfull life. Since you have the intention of testing the first one, I would go ahead and test the second one as well...

hill8570 · 05-17-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hqfking

it's a 4 cylinder car.

where is the location of the sensor? I may check the sensor status by myself first!

And the parts is different between the california emission and non-california emission. How would i know that my car is with california emission or not?

Location of the part is shown at http://www.camrystuff.com/manuals/Ge...on_Control.pdf page 16. Just follow the exhaust manifold down to the first catalytic converter -- it's just past the bottom of the first catalytic converter.

P1133 can only occur on a California-spec car, so you'd need to buy an A/F sensor (i.e., more $$$), not an regular oxygen sensor. If you're interested, you can look at the diagnostic instructions at http://www.camrystuff.com/manuals/Gen4/Diagnostics.pdf page 157. Frankly, I'd just have the code cleared (if it hasn't already been), and if it re-occurs, just replace the A/F sensor -- after 11 years, it's due for it.

hqfking · 05-18-2009, 07:47 AM

I just checked my repair history and found that I have the A/F sensor replaced on 05/31/07. And this would be the second time.

And I searched the sparkplugs.com, it only have some O2 sensors but no A/F sensors? Where could I get some A/F sensors for less money?

hill8570 · 05-18-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hqfking

I just checked my repair history and found that I have the A/F sensor replaced on 05/31/07. And this would be the second time.

And I searched the sparkplugs.com, it only have some O2 sensors but no A/F sensors? Where could I get some A/F sensors for less money?

Unless it was a real junky sensor, two years is ridiculous. Not sure what else could cause a P1133, 'tho.

sparkplugs.com has A/F sensors, although you have to use the "O2 Sensor" pulldown to search for them (obvious, eh?).

hqfking · 05-18-2009, 11:38 AM

i search the sparkplugs.com under o2 sensor, there are three brands " bosch, denso, NGK", each of them has two kinds of sensor "non-california" and "california" , but all of the sensors are marked as O2 sensor.

Really confused.

***projektvertx*** · 05-18-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hqfking

I just checked my repair history and found that I have the A/F sensor replaced on 05/31/07. And this would be the second time.

And I searched the sparkplugs.com, it only have some O2 sensors but no A/F sensors? Where could I get some A/F sensors for less money?

2 years for that kind of sensor is ridiculous! My O2 sensor lasted 14 years and 206,000 miles before giving out... and I changes the 2 others(mine is a V6) strictly because i figured they must be nearing the end of their life as well... I would check what brand they put in there, it must have been some crappy sensor, when you do decide to change, go for a denso and denso ONLY! They have insanely high quality parts trust me. My recommendation, go to your nearest Toyota dealership, get some info on the exact part, and come back home and buy it online at a fraction of the price...

***projektvertx*** · 05-18-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hqfking

i search the sparkplugs.com under o2 sensor, there are three brands " bosch, denso, NGK", each of them has two kinds of sensor "non-california" and "california" , but all of the sensors are marked as O2 sensor.

Really confused.

Where did you purchase the car?

sloanj1 · 05-18-2009, 12:02 PM

Determining if your car is California or Federal emissions is very simple. On the underside of your hood there is an emissions label that has engine family information, fuel system info, etc. On this label will be a small paragraph that will basically say "This vehicle conforms to U.S. (Federal) or California emissions standards for XXXX model year..." Also on a Toyota A/F or O2 sensor, there is a part number printed on the side of the sensor. Your local Toyota parts dept will be able to tell you if there is an updated sensor available. I strongly recommend purchasing a genuine Toyota sensor due to the sensitivity of the system. Your dealer will also be able to tell you quite a bit with your VIN number.

hqfking · 05-18-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projektvertx

Where did you purchase the car?

Newark, DE

hqfking · 05-18-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projektvertx

2 years for that kind of sensor is ridiculous! My O2 sensor lasted 14 years and 206,000 miles before giving out... and I changes the 2 others(mine is a V6) strictly because i figured they must be nearing the end of their life as well... I would check what brand they put in there, it must have been some crappy sensor, when you do decide to change, go for a denso and denso ONLY! They have insanely high quality parts trust me. My recommendation, go to your nearest Toyota dealership, get some info on the exact part, and come back home and buy it online at a fraction of the price...

That one was changed in the dealer's shop. Cost $301. I just called them, and they said the part only has one year warranty.
The history said " install sop Air Fuel sensor".

hill8570 · 05-18-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hqfking

i search the sparkplugs.com under o2 sensor, there are three brands " bosch, denso, NGK", each of them has two kinds of sensor "non-california" and "california" , but all of the sensors are marked as O2 sensor.

Really confused.

If you select a particular brand (say, Denso) when California is selected, you see both a A/F Sensor (~$150) and a regular O2 Sensor (~$80) listed. The NGK list calls them both O2 Sensors, but you'll note that the "front" sensor is way, way more expensive than the "rear" sensor -- a hallmark of an A/F sensor.