code p0138 - O2 sensor, HFCs dead?

[brucelidat]

So I got a Service Engine Soon light, checked the code and found it was P0138 which is a problem with the O2 sensor. I am wondering if my HFCs are dead or maybe something happened tot he O2 sensor itself? I have recently been getting somewhat of a fuel smell int he garage when the car is warming up, but it's not major. The car is also not noticeably louder (though it could have been gradual in which case I might not notice, possibly same with the fuel smell).

The light didn't come on until a day when I drove through some heavily flooded streets which likely would have submerged it into water, though. Could this have messed up the sensor or is it probably the HFC? Is there any way for em to troubleshoot which the problem is without replacing the HFCs?

[Grindkiezer]

HFC and Test pipes are known to just foul O2 sensors. I don't think its anything major, are you sure it just isn't placebo seeing the CEL and then thinking that the car has made changes?

[brucelidat]

Well, I've had the HFCs for 30k miles with no light. Also, I noticed the fuel smell a few days before the light came on.

[Grindkiezer]

Have you been able to do a visual inspection of them? The O2 bungs could be cracked where it's welded to the HFC

[brucelidat]

No, maybe I'll take a look in a few weeks when I have pulleys installed.

[DEpointfive0]

Originally Posted by brucelidat

No, maybe I'll take a look in a few weeks when I have pulleys installed.

Bang on the pipe NEAR the HFC, if it rattles, it's gone


You want to check it out ASAP, there have been times where cats break, a piece gets sucked into the engine because of stroke overlap, and that piece scrapes and damages the wall of the cylinder

[brucelidat]

edit: car is louder. I can't hear my radio at the usual volume setting I sue plus the volume was starting to bother me today.

[Grindkiezer]

Originally Posted by brucelidat

edit: car is louder. I can't hear my radio at the usual volume setting I sue plus the volume was starting to bother me today.

Does it sound worse? I mean like shît, not just louder?

[brucelidat]

Not sure but I don't think ti sounds too much different, just louder and with a rumbly vibration that was starting to give me a headache. but then again, I got used to how it sounded before to the point where it's hard for em to say exactly how it was. I just notice that it was bothering me today and I had to turn the radio like a lot higher than usual to hear it.

[chops]

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Bang on the pipe NEAR the HFC, if it rattles, it's gone


You want to check it out ASAP, there have been times where cats break, a piece gets sucked into the engine because of stroke overlap, and that piece scrapes and damages the wall of the cylinder

god thats scary. i guess the solution is to just run resonated test pipes :P

[roy'sz]

This might be afr sensor not catm cats are 420+430.

[Rusty]

I had the same code and 0139 a few months back. I cleaned the MAF sensors and cleared the codes. It hasn't been back. I would clean the MAF sensors first, and clear the code and see if the code comes back. If it comes back. Then I would start looking for something else.