Hi there,

I have Honda Civic 97 CX automatic with 80K on it. The check engine light started going orange all the time when my car is running. I got OBD2 car reader and got the following error message: “O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1)”.

What does it mean?
Is it safe to drive my car while this CEL is on?
How big deal is to replace this sensor (should it be replaced) and how much it costs?

Thanks,

Vox

yes its safe, it just makes ur car run like shit, and eat up gas. o2 sensor: you have 2 one at the top of your exhaust manifold/header and one on the downpipe, i suggest you change both

If what it's wrong is only the heater then the car should run O.K when reaching operating temperature. There will be no problem running it like that, only the CEL being lit. If the performance is not normal (bad emissions, increase in fuel consumption, lag etc) then the sensor should be replaced.

This post has been edited by solanog: Oct 24 2007, 10:55 AM

ITS NOT EXPENSIVE AND ESAY TO DO IF I WAS YOU I WOULD CHANGE IT DO THE ONE BY THE HEADERS FIRST AND THEN RESET THE COMPUTER AND TEST IT OUT IF THE LIGHT DOESNT COME ON THAT WAS THE RIGHT SENSOR IF IT COMES ON AGAIN CHANGE THE OTHER ONE AND RESET THE COMPUTER AGAIN

BTW, be careful with not OEM parts, I changed mine with no OEM and got the blew the ECU, I lost speedometer other malfunctions.

I need an oxygen sensor so I am glad that I found this post. I had no idea that you should really replace both of them at the same time.

I was told just today that if your oxygen sensor is shot you will usually have a smell like rotten eggs from time to time when you get out of your car. Anyone else ever hear this?

I haven't heard that. I'd think it would be possible to confuse that smell with the smell that's sometimes there from the air conditioning unit?