Error Code P0131: What It Means & What To Do?

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The fault code P0131 can be described as O2 sensor circuit low voltage bank 1 sensor 1. This code would indicate that there are some issues in the wiring like corrosion, breaks and sometimes even separation. The oxygen sensor could turn out to be non-functioning or there can also be some bad connection to the ECU, or there are chances that the power source is not supplying enough amount of voltage to the sensor.

Are you willing to learn something more about this fault code? The O2 sensor is positioned in the exhaust system so that it is able to monitor oxygen levels in the exhaust gases that exit the engine. This gauge’s fuel burning efficiency as well as checks that the car engine is maintaining the proper air fuel ratio for a clean burn. This would then help the ECU to determine if the mixture of the fuel is rich or lean. Here rich would mean less oxygen and on the other hand lean would be more oxygen.

What causes this problem with the O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank 1 Sensor 1)?

• There can be some failure in the oxygen sensor
• The wiring might be damaged or unplugged
• The reading of the coolant temperature sensor can be improper
• There can be a failure in the heater circuit for oxygen sensor
• Generally, the sensor might fail due to age and wear

1. Oxygen Sensor - P0131 error code also relates to problems with the Oxygen Sensor. Find all the Oxygen Sensor related parts with us.
2. Mass Air Flow Sensor - OBD Error Code P0131 can simply be due to faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor. Replace old and damage components now!
3. Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor - If there is any fault detected in the Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor, then it would flash OBD Code P0131. Replace faulty Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor now!
4. Exhaust Parts - Faulty/damaged Exhaust parts will reduce the performance of the vehicle. Thus, it is important to replace them immediately.
5. Powertrain Control Module - Problematic Powertrain Control Module would be a reason why P0131 fault code is appearing again and again. Replace faulty Powertrain Control Module immediately.
6. Engine Control Module - Is your Mass Air Flow Sensor perfectly correct, but still seeing P0131 code? Then there is definitely some issue with the Engine Control Module.
7. Fuel Pump - Are you facing some issues in your Fuel Pump? Don’t worry as we have solutions for all your problems!

We at Parts Avatar Canada care for our customers, and that’s why we will help you to diagnose P0131 code by listing out some major symptoms. They are mentioned below as follows:

Common Symptoms

• Check engine light might start illuminating
• Vehicle may idle or start running roughly
• There can be a decrease in fuel economy
• Engine might start dying
• Black smoke can start coming out of the exhaust and bad smelling exhaust
• There can be some unusual cases where no adverse conditions can be noticed by the driver

It is very important to fix the fault code P0131. So here are some ways with which you can correct this issue:

• First of all you have to confirm that P0131 is present. This can be done using a scan tool
• You must clear the fault code and complete a road test to ensure that P0131 comes back
• Perform a visual inspection of the bank 1 sensor 1 wiring replacing or repairing any wiring that is found to be faulty
• After that you should check voltage and resistance of bank 1 sensor 1
• If you find it necessary, then you can replace the oxygen sensor bank 1 sensor 1 with a new sensor

However, if you face any issue then we have stocked a wide range of best priced catalytic converter, fuel pump, exhaust manifold and more to help you out in fixing your car.

• The first and the foremost thing which a mechanic should do is to plug in a OBD2 scanner into the DLC connector, which is generally located under the dash on the driver’s side, to read and confirm any codes present. With any code there will be an associated freeze frame data which tells us under what conditions such as engine speed, driving speed, run time, engine temperature that the code was set at so that we are able to recreate this in our test drive
• Once you find out that P0131 fault code is confirmed, then a qualified mechanic will clear the code and then make sure that you take your vehicle out on a test drive while observing the vehicles data street which will show the oxygen sensor voltage and resistance. If you find out that the code comes back on, excessive resistance is shown, or out of range voltage is present the technician has confirmed there is a fault in the oxygen sensor circuit
• You should visit a qualified technician who can efficiently perform a visual inspection to insure the integrity of the oxygen sensor wiring
• If the wiring is found to be perfectly okay the mechanic will check the sensor voltage and resistance. The voltage should be below 1 volt and resistance below manufacture specifications for each vehicle.

Common Mistakes When Diagnosing The P0131 Code

• The most common mistake can be not confirming that a fault is present in the oxygen sensor circuit by clearing the code and performing a test drive
• One another common mistake which can occur is that engine misfires can be caused by an oxygen sensor failure and alternatively engine misfires can cause the vehicle’s oxygen sensors to read improperly
• If the coolant temperature sensor is faulty, then it can lead to misdiagnosis as well