P0130 to P0166: oxygen sensor circuit

The engine computer does not like what an oxygen sensor is reporting: a voltage stuck low or high, a slow response, or no activity at all. Bank and sensor number say which one.

SeverityModerateUsually not urgent today, but it can get worse if left.

Can you keep driving?Drive gently, check it soon

What does P0130 mean?

Each oxygen sensor reads how much oxygen is left in the exhaust. Sensor 1 sits before the catalytic converter and steers the fuel mixture; sensor 2 sits after it and watches the converter. A healthy upstream sensor swings between lean and rich several times a second once warm. These codes mean the signal is out of range, too lazy to follow the mixture, or flat.

What causes P0130?

  1. An ageing sensor that has become slow, common after high mileage
  2. A damaged or chafed sensor wire, often melted against the exhaust
  3. An exhaust leak near the sensor that dilutes what it reads
  4. Contamination from coolant, oil burning or the wrong sealant
  5. A real mixture fault that keeps the signal pinned lean or rich

What to check first for P0130

  • Note the bank and sensor number before touching anything
  • Look along the sensor's lead for melted insulation or a loose plug
  • Check for exhaust leaks around the manifold and the joints near the sensor
  • Watch the live signal on a scan tool with the engine warm: an upstream sensor should switch quickly

Can you drive with P0130?

You can usually drive to a workshop. Fuel economy suffers and emissions rise, and a faulty upstream sensor can upset the mixture enough to damage the catalytic converter over time, so do not leave it for months.

Clear a code only after the fault is fixed. A code that comes back means the cause is still there, and a warning light left on can hide a second fault behind the first.

Codes on this page

30
  • P0130O2 Sensor CircuitBank 1 Sensor 1
  • P0131O2 Sensor Circuit Low VoltageBank 1 Sensor 1
  • P0132O2 Sensor Circuit High VoltageBank 1 Sensor 1
  • P0133O2 Sensor Circuit Slow ResponseBank 1 Sensor 1
  • P0134O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity DetectedBank 1 Sensor 1
  • P0136O2 Sensor CircuitBank 1 Sensor 2
  • P0137O2 Sensor Circuit Low VoltageBank 1 Sensor 2
  • P0138O2 Sensor Circuit High VoltageBank 1 Sensor 2
  • P0139O2 Sensor Circuit Slow ResponseBank 1 Sensor 2
  • P0140O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity DetectedBank 1 Sensor 2
  • P0142O2 Sensor CircuitBank 1 Sensor 3
  • P0143O2 Sensor Circuit Low VoltageBank 1 Sensor 3
  • P0144O2 Sensor Circuit High VoltageBank 1 Sensor 3
  • P0145O2 Sensor Circuit Slow ResponseBank 1 Sensor 3
  • P0146O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity DetectedBank 1 Sensor 3
  • P0150O2 Sensor CircuitBank 2 Sensor 1
  • P0151O2 Sensor Circuit Low VoltageBank 2 Sensor 1
  • P0152O2 Sensor Circuit High VoltageBank 2 Sensor 1
  • P0153O2 Sensor Circuit Slow ResponseBank 2 Sensor 1
  • P0154O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity DetectedBank 2 Sensor 1
  • P0156O2 Sensor CircuitBank 2 Sensor 2
  • P0157O2 Sensor Circuit Low VoltageBank 2 Sensor 2
  • P0158O2 Sensor Circuit High VoltageBank 2 Sensor 2
  • P0159O2 Sensor Circuit Slow ResponseBank 2 Sensor 2
  • P0160O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity DetectedBank 2 Sensor 2
  • P0162O2 Sensor CircuitBank 2 Sensor 3
  • P0163O2 Sensor Circuit Low VoltageBank 2 Sensor 3
  • P0164O2 Sensor Circuit High VoltageBank 2 Sensor 3
  • P0165O2 Sensor Circuit Slow ResponseBank 2 Sensor 3
  • P0166O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity DetectedBank 2 Sensor 3

Checked on · Rafael Soares

These are the generic meanings every manufacturer shares. Each brand adds its own detail, so your car's handbook, its service information and a qualified mechanic have the last word. OdoKeep has no connection with any manufacturer, and the app does not read codes from the car.

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