I am getting ready to sell my 1996 SC300 and the Check Engine Light has been on for a while, which I have been ignoring because I have been too busy to deal with it.

Anyway, yesterday I had the computer run on it and it came up with "P0135 O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1)"

I assume this means I need to replace the O2 sensor. So what is the least expensive way to go about this?

Should I buy the part myself online and then have a mechanic install it. (I am pretty much an idiot when it comes to cars so unless it is as simple as just screwing it in I would rather pay someone to do it)?

If so: A) Where should I buy the part? B) Aftermarket or OEM? C) How much should I have to pay a mechanic to install it?

BTW, obviously I am trying to avoid going to the dealership and spending too much money.

Thanks.

 

o2 sensor writeup for SC300 in Maintenance section
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=137797

 

Thanks. I had read that thread but it doesn't really answer any of my specific questions.

 

i have the sensor from a 97 sc300 with 40k miles, 50 shipped, and will take you about 30 mins to install.

 

A recent post referred postive to this site... OxygenSensors.com

http://www.automedicsupply.com/index.php?

 

Gazi,

Is that an OEM sensor? (I.E. Am I going to have fool around with splicing the wires in order to connect it?)

Thanks,
Marty

 

just splice it. 2min worth of your time to splice is better than spending $50 or more for an oem sensor. And make sure how many wires your O2 sensor uses. I remember the cali ones or something have 4-wires while others only have a single wire??

 

If it is just the heater circuit, then the O2 sensor itself is working fine. You could always trick it by putting a big resistor (or wiring another dead O2 sensor, with intact heater circuit) inline, but that might be a bit complicated. The sensor, at any rate, should be a plug and play, so, if you don't mind crawling under your car (just aft of downpipe), you can screw the old sensor out of the pipe, screw the new one in, and plug the wires back in.

And, yes, if yours has the heater circuitry, then it should be a 4-wire sensor, not the one-wire version.