O2 Sensor fault

[Shaftshake]

Hey,

I've been having some issues with a O2 sensor of late (sporadically giving me 0 power from the engine along with the engine warning light and the error code P0132). I've got a sensor on order, but I have 2 quick questions.

- Is it possible to "strap out" the sensor to get the car running reasonably reliably (even if it runs a bit rich?) until I can fit a new one?

- There are 2 sensors, is there a way or technique to narrow down which one is the actual defective one?

Cheers

[Warby80]

The fault code itself tells you which sensor it is, (bank1, sensor1) sensor 1 is the one closest to the engine. Sensor 2 would be the one furthest away (post cat).

As sensor1 is the one the ecu uses to control fueling there is no way to bypass it and it would really need replacing asap.

[dvs_dave]

You could just unplug the sensor until you get a new one fitted. Without O2 sensor input the ECU should fall back to a safe map based on just inlet air mass/temp/pressure. It’ll be running rich and guzzling fuel and be very down on power but it’ll still work.

[Penelope Stopit]

Messing about or using before a fix may mean new CAT required

[E-bmw]

Correct, far better to see if the sensors share a plug as if so & the post cat sensor works you could switch them over as the post cat sensor doesn't really do very much.

[Shaftshake]

Cheers guys, got a new sensor and got it fitted by a mechanic in the end (couldn't shift the sensor myself) but nicely he replaced sensor 2 instead, so I still have the problem, and an unnecessarily replaced sensor. Nevermind.