i have a CEL code right now that reads P2196: o2 sensor stuck rich. i want to get this fixed asap, but im not sure how to do it. idk if its the sensor on the down pipe thats stuck or the one on the s-pipe. i do have an exhaust leak from the downpipe to the s-pipe, idk if that could be causing the problem. i was wondering if anyone knew anyother possiblities that could be casuing me to get this code. and how to go about getting rid of it....hopefully i dont need to buy a new sensor cause they arent cheap.

 

Its the one in the s-pipe

 

how can you be so sure?

 

Because the first 02 dosnt measure richness, the 2nd 02 measures weather or not your vehicles cat is working properly, and will throw a code if it believs your car is running too rich or the cat is not working as designed.

 

hmmm you think it may be thrown off from the exhaust leak...air and exhaust gas escaping before it reaches that sensor? ive had the leak since the kit was installed tho and this is the firstime ive thrown the code. is there a way to check and see if its damaged?

 

Well you will throw a code if you take away the cats. Some have had success using somesort of anti fouler. me being one of them.

 

Its not going to hurt anything, its only telling you that the cats not working properly. thats all that 02 is there for.

 

i thought the cat code was a differnt code all in itself, P0420 Catalyst efficiency below threshold isnt that the cat code? sorry for all the questions i just wanna make sure that if i ignore this code it wont cause anyproblems. thanks for the help too whocares, i appreciate it.

 

You are correct. So the code you are throwing now IS coming from your primary 02 sensor, the one in the downpipe. Sounds like you might need to replace it.

 

does anyone know where you could purchase one?

 

i also dont understand how it couldve been broken, after the install of the it it worked fine, until 3 months later(now) it starts throwning this code....

 

It might have broken from your car running rich, maybe clogging it? Not sure though. Have you tried re-setting the code? It might not come back on. I know when i blew a coupler off and grannied my car home, I was throwing a system too rich code. I fixed it and re-set the code and no problem. So, try re-setting it.

 

i got the code once before and i reset it to see if maybe it just ran too rich for a cople seconds and threw the code. but the n a couple days later (yesterday) it came back

 

and your still using the emanage to tune ur car?

 

yeah i still have the emanage on it.

 

I have that issue with my primary o2 sensor as well. I have to replace it. It's about $150 from a dealership - not sure where else you can get it from.

 

aigh thanks, im in the process of trying to get one asap. is it safe to drive the car with the code?

 

Ive heard of a few 02 getting stuck in open loop or something. just waste more gas. not sure if its the same with your situation though.

 

it came on while the car was in closed loop, i did hit full boost before that tho, whe ni gothome i let the car idle for a while before shutting it down and thats when i got the CEL.... lol

 

I've been running with that CEL on for oh, 9 months.. Lol.

It's ok but you run rich as heck - so you waste gas.

I probably woulda saved more than the o2 sensor's worth in gas if I had changed it right away.