Replacing O2 Sensors

[keoni]

Does anyone have any instructions on DIY for replacing the O2 sensors on a '99 986?

Cleaned the MAF and the CEL stayed off for a month, then BAM it's on again. :angry:

Will consider DIY in replacing the O2 's if not too difficult.

Regards

Keoni986

[mrmickeymouse]

How do you know it's the O2's.

Scott

[keoni]

Scott, the reader returned this code:P1128 Oxygen Sensing Adaptation Area 2 (Cylinders 1 - 3) - Rich Threshold

I assuming, which I know it is wrong to assume <_< , that the problem is the O2 sensors.

Keoni

[mrmickeymouse]

You may want to read the MAF thread

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=659

I believe you have some similarities.

Scott

[keoni]

Scott, been there! After all the jazzerations with the new sensor his light still came back on. That's why I feel my problem is really is the O2 sensors. Do you know if a DIYer can replace them?

Keoni

[mrmickeymouse]

Sure the O2's are easy, you can access them with a little monkeying around but it is not a big deal. Be careful of the wire and the tip of the new O2.

Lift the car and checkout your exhaust, you will see them, you should use some "Break Free" or 3 in on oil, that heat will definitely make them a pain this :censored: to get out.

A 22mm crows foot wrench or a O2 wrench.

Send me an E mail, and I will send you a picture of it.

Scott

Edited October 4, 2004 by mrmickeymouse

[keoni]

Thanks Scott, got the picture. One more thing for you or others here. The code is P1128 Oxygen Sensing Adaptation Area 2 (Cylinders 1 - 3) - Rich Threshold. Can someone, anyone, tell me where that sensor is? Please?

Regards

keoni986

[mrmickeymouse]

It is the O2's which tells you this, on that side. It would be very difficult for the MAF to understand sides, so process of elimination and closest "sensor" would be the O2's.

I would presume [without looking it up] the first O2 after the cylinders and before the the "Cat" is most accurate.

It is very nice to be this specific. In normal cars you may have 1 or 2 O2's telling you this for 8 cylinders. Not much help there..

Form with function.

Scott

[keoni]

Scott, took a look at the underneath and saw the sensors. Removing the wheel and getting at the one sensor before the 'cat' looks easy. Ditto for the one on the 'cat'. But I still have this question unanswered, which side are 1-3 cylinders on? Driver or Passenger?

And one more thing, I know from the guys at work they heat bearings to expand the diameter so when cooled they fit better. Does the same prinicple apply when removing exhaust items? For example, should the engine be at operating temp when I try to remove the sensor. Makes sense? I need help :lightbulb: please!

regards

Keoni986

[mrmickeymouse]

I would say a little break free is better [less burning - can you imagine that area hot :eek: ]

Here is the thread for the cylinder location.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?s...=2645&hl=firing

Scott

[keoni]

Took the driver side rear wheel off to clean for our Octoberfest and the O2 sensors are an easy reach. Heard on PPBB that a dealer cleaned someones O2 sensor. I might try that. Course can you imagine what the business end looks like after 50K of hot exhaust blasting it? I think it's worth a shot.

Keoni986

[mrmickeymouse]

The Boxster manual and the TSB states not to clean it or touch it with anything, the biggest No... No... is do not drop it.

I just turned 190,000 in my Toyota Four runner and just replaced the O2 [go figure].

Did you see what I wrote about the O2's and other "smog related" parts are in theory a warranted item.

Scott

[keoni]

Yes I saw that and possibly the O2 sensors would be related to the emissions of the warranty. Could it be that you have to be the first owner? Anyway I changed my first O2 sensor today. Couldn't have been easier! Piece a cake! Disconnecting the old one was easy and removing it was just as easy.

Scott. I used a special tool from Snap-on to remove the O2 sensor. I borrowed it from a very special Porsche Independent shop. What a nice guy! He's in Stroudsburg, PA

Keoni :cheers:

[mrmickeymouse]

I had a feeling MAC or Snap On would have it. I am happy for you, I would consider approaching the Porsche dealer on some reimbursement. The warranty goes with the car and not the person.

I have some [snap on] fitting wrenches which would probably be ideal.

Scott

[keoni]

Scott the CEL is back on! **** :censored: All that work for what? Anyway I called a Porsche dealer service and they said the code: P1128 Oxygen Sensing Adaptation Area 2 (Cylinders 1 - 3) - Rich Threshold is a vacuum leak!!!!!!!!!!! How the heck does that figure? I just spent $154 fer nothing.

Keoni

[joee]

Check the oil filler cap and the fule filler cap. Also, hope you have a stock air filer not a K&N.

Joe

[mrmickeymouse]

I was worried that the O2's may not be the problem, now an air leak problem which seems to be very prevalent in our cars.

It manifests itself as an secondary air injection code, MAF code, Oil separator etc...

Most of these problems have a commonality "Air" either rich [doubtful] or lean [letting to much in - most likely].

Now to hunt yours down, will be the trick.

Fill me in on what's it doing right now.

Scott

[keoni]

Scott, it's idling just under 800 and steady. No noticeable loss of power in any gears. Exhaust smells very clean, no burnt smell. Come to think of it the smell is very clean as opposed to exhaust I smell from our other cars. Those smell like exhaust! CEL light is on after about 125 miles after installing the new O2 sensor. Slight vapor on start up, I say vapor becasue if it was smoke it would linger, it dosen't. No mods of anykind on engine. No EVO, no K&N, nada.

Keoni (need :help: )

[mrmickeymouse]

Tool pants may know a quick way, but my way is to do a cursory check of your engine compartment.

If I did not see anything obvious i.e. hose clamp off, broken hose, I would check for air leaks with [caveat] starter fluid or Carb. cleaner.

I would spray it on the hoses where you can, if you have a broken/cracked hose. The Boxster will idle higher - for the second after the fluid hits it.

If you start manipulating hoses, you could create problems by the manipulation process [crack the hose].

Scott

[keoni]

Scott, here is another twist! I read on PPBB that the replacement gas cap has a teather. I had previously called Porsche NA and they told me the cap WAS replaced. I have no teather on the cap. I remember my problems started just after I got gas. I'm calling them again tomorrow to get the facts straight. Do you or anyone else know if the replacement cap is teathered???

THANKS for all you help so far!

Keoni :drive:

[mrmickeymouse]

It is better to see run your cap by a either a smog place to check it or find an aftermarket - it may be cheaper.

Yes, the new caps have teethers but, I am not aware of the cap being the problem. Maybe TP knows if it was an esthetic change or a leakage change.

I have not read any problems with caps in any other posts. I think it was a I want to be like the jonese's move.

The TSB I told you about is probably closer to your problem.

Scott

[Tool Pants]

It is easy to tell if you have the new style gas cap since you have a 1999. 1997-2000 caps have 2 slots on the cap to hang the cap on the fuel flap.

There was a recall a while back for 1998 and I think up to 2001 or 2002, a least in California. A sticker was placed on the rear trunk lid.

The style cap for the recall is the cap that started in 2001 with the teather. 1997-2000 did not have a teather. So on those years the teather was removed from the cap, and there are no slots.

1997 was not subject to the recall as 1997 has a different emission system.

First pic is a teathered cap on a 2000. The owner asked the dealer not to remove the teather because there is a hole you can use for the end of the teather on a 1998-2000. Second pic is the sticker for the recall if the recall was done, at least in California.

[keoni]

Well I have the A209 sticker on the inside back deck BUT I do NOT have the gas cap as pictured. I called Porsche NA and they said the dealer did the work. Also I did a quick inspection of the hoses and didn't find any that looked loose or cracked. I'm hoping it's the gas cap. I know a dealer sales manager in another city. I'll ask him what my next step could be. Hint Hint-get another gas cap fer free??

Thanks all!

Keoni

Edited November 6, 2004 by keoni

[Tool Pants]

If the recall was done your cap should have in white lettering in German and English "turn to click" with an arrow. Strange you do not have the cap but have the recall sticker.

[keoni]

If the recall was done your cap should have in white lettering in German and English "turn to click" with an arrow.  Strange you do not have the cap but have the recall sticker.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes I have all of the above except the tether and am thinking the previous owner might have switched it when they sold it.

THANKS

Keoni