97 check engine light problems

[kgraham1]

All of a sudden my check engine light came on the other day. so i took it to a mechanice and we put it on the diagnostic tester, the only error that came up was a bad 02 sensor. the rear right one was bad, so that was the one that was replaced.. so i leave and 20 mins later it comes on again.. so i took a diagnostic tester from work the othernight and hooked it up and it came up as bad o2 sensor again..so i cleared it, went for about a 25 mile drive before i came home last night and it was good to go.. got up this morning now the damn thing is on again. I have no idea what to do..its annoying the heck out of me. i dont want to pull the bulb out in case something bad were to go wrong, but i want to fix it. any suggestions?

 

[kgraham1]

neone?

 

[Skymarshal]

Disconnect the battery for 30 minutes to clear the computer, and then reconnect and take the car for a test drive. If the light comes on again, it's an existing condition, so either another 02 sensor is bad or your new one wasn't plugged in.

 

[Grumpa72]

You can NOT clear the code by disconnecting the battery (although you MAY be able to delay it - not sure on that). You need a code reader that you can borrow from AutoZone or Advance Auto. I had a CEL on my 97 V6. Borrowed the code reader; it said I had a bad O2 sensor. One new sensor, one drive to Advance Auto to borrow the code reader again, and I am back in business without the CEL.

After your mechanic replaced the sensor, did he reset the OBD II system? If you do a Google search on OBD II systems, you will see that the hand held devices have a Read function and a Clear function.

Gary

 

[kgraham1]

i've done that about 3 times now..i disconnect it, then hook it back up. the light stays off for about 15 miles then comes on again.. how would the 02 sensor not of been hooked up? the code is p0161..which is the bank 2 sensor..

 

[kgraham1]

i dont know about the obd II functions..i'm really lost on what to do..that error is the only one that comes up each time..i've scanned it 2 times after he put the new one in..

 

[Mike97gt]

you need to pull the full error code. if it's a cat inneficency code then you got a cat converter thats not working as good as it should. You may still pass state sniffer tests but you will have to use a mil elim. to stop the code from setting.

if it's a circuit malfution code then you must have a connector or wire thats bad.

Pull the full code and get back to us, if I don't respond PM me