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2000 Camry V6, Replaced Valve Cover Gaskets now CEL on -- o2 sensor
Howdy. Long time lurker first time poster.
My wife's 2000 Camry was leaking oil from the so we took it to a mechanic to replace the valve cover gaskets. They replaced them earlier this week, but yesterday, the CEL came on in her car. She took it back to them, and they said that the oxygen sensor is bad and needed to be replaced. They want $200+ to replace it.
Couple of questions for the community:
1. Could the shop have done anything to cause this? If so, is there any way to get verification that what they did caused the issue?
2. How difficult is it to replace an O2 sensor? I checked prices, and the sensors seem to be less than half what the shop wants to replace it.
Thanks!
TW
Last edited by thewarden; 11-13-2011 at 06:02 PM.
Reason: typos, typos, typos
Nah, likely the shop didnt damage anything. two unrelated problems.
As far as removal and installation of a new sensor. Really straight forward. Get a sensor removal socket, disconnect the harness from the sensor, put the socket on there and take it out.
With the V6, you need to know for sure WHICH sensor is bad. There are at least two, maybe three. You need to get the error code; it'll be something like P0135. Get the code and report back. The two (or three) sensors are:
1) In the front bank's exhaust manifold. This is the one right up front in the engine bay; right behind the radiator.
2) In the rear bank's exhaust manifold. This one is hard to see, and is more difficult to replace. Here's a thread with a pic showing where it is.
3) In the exhaust pipe downstream from the catalytic converter. Your car may or may not have this one, depending on if it has CA emissions. CA has it. Here's a DIY thread showing where it is and how to change it.
__________________
1992 Camry LE, V6 (3VZ-FE), ABS brakes, 330k miles, dark emerald pearl, owned since new.
1996 Avalon XLS, ABS brakes, moonroof, white, acquired w/ 139k miles, now at 261k.
2001 Yamaha FZ1, Ivan's jet kit, resprung all around, Ohlins in the rear, Race Tech cartridge emulators in the forks, 45k miles.
Told me it was bank 1 sensor 1 (heater circuit). But, he didn't actually write it down anywhere or note it in the computer...so he was just going on memory.
We're going to take it to get the code read again tomorrow, and I'll report back.
Usually the B1S1 heater circuit means that the heater element burnt up, but if you have luck like I had with my 96 Accord EX it means that the Wiring in the ECM was fried. lol
IIRC B1S1 should be on the back side of the engine. Bank 1 is on the same side as Cylinder 1, and Sensor 1 is before the CAT
What I have seen happen is the connector for the bank 1 sensor clips onto the power steering line bracket, sometimes the connector won't clip back in and it gets melted on the manifold. They could've done that. You have to move the engine harness to do the bank 1 valve cover. Maybe, maybe not. If you decide to DIY make sure it clips back in, if not tie wrap it to the bracket. Use a Toyota sensor, you get what you pay for.
A couple of things you can do before changing out the sensor is to measure the resistance of the oxygen sensor heater. Maybe others can help look up the resistance range and pins. Also measure to see if there is battery voltage on those pins on the harness side.
For example, if you don't see voltage on the harness side then no sense changing out the sensor. And if you see voltage but the sensor shows open circuit, then you know. etc.
If it's the Bank 1 sensor then it's the one by the firewall. Since it's down low I'm not sure if the wiring is even in the way of the valve cover gasket work. It may be just a coincidence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thewarden
Told me it was bank 1 sensor 1 (heater circuit). But, he didn't actually write it down anywhere or note it in the computer...so he was just going on memory.
We're going to take it to get the code read again tomorrow, and I'll report back.
Thanks for everyone's help! Got the part this weekend and replaced it without major issues. The two hardest parts were actual figuring out how to disconnect old sensor and then zip-tying the wires away from the engine once I installed the new one.
I didn't end up buying the oxygen sensor socket set. I had a ratchet wrench that I planned on using until I couldn't get the old sensor disconnected. Ended up using an adjustable crescent wrench to undo the older sensor and then the ratchet wrench to re-attach the new one.
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