Code 41 Oxygen Sensor Heater Help

[evol90accord]

I know what the code means, but I don't know what the "Primary Oxygen Sensor Heater" is. PLEASE don't tell me to just change the sensor, I've tried that twice now. Both the Bosch OE AND a Honda OEM sensor have given me this error.

The stock wiring has never been touched, and both sensors came prewired so it that couldn't be my issue.

How do I go about troubleshooting the Oxygen Sensor Heater, or can only just keep replacing O2 sensors until I find one that works?? Hard to believe I got 2 bad ones, including one from Honda.

[evol90accord]

I tried resetting the ECU twice by disconnecting the negative battery cable and pulling the Hazard fuse and letting it sit for a few minutes... didn't help.

My idle is also bouncing now from 1100 to 1400 rpm, very consistantly. Even after revving the engine, turning the A/C on, and driving for a little bit, the engine continues to idle high and bounce between 1100 and 1400 rpms.

Any ideas? Honda is closed, but I guess I could stop by Autozone for another 02 sensor. I thought the OE wired one's were supposed to be fine though and fix the error code issue...

[green5thgen]

Even though you have never intentionally messed with the wiring, heat is very problematic under the hood with wires. Normally heat is not an issue, but over a period of 200,000 miles or so, with the highs of summer heat, and the lows of winter cold, wires can crack causing them to short out. Try unpluging the O2 sensor and going to the heater wire on the plug. Trace it to whereever it goes, maybe Fizzbob can help here and put a probe to it and see if it has continuity. If so, you haven't solved anyting. But if not, then here inlies your problem. It's not going to cause any problems with your car really, it just helps the O2 sensor get up to temp quicker and thus better readings quicker. The idleing problem lays with the intake sensors. There are a number of them on this car including but not limited to: Intake air sensor, cool air idle, hot air idle, etc. Sometimes the idle screw needs to be reset. If your car never stops revving up and down even after warm, it is not the O2 sensor problem causing it.

[JaK FRoSTWhiTE]

I dont think its the sensor.
You said you replaced the sensors with 2 good ones, and
you still got the problem.

Why dont you try checking your IAC

[accordztech]

i had this issue, i got a new sensor and it was fine, butthe problem occured even more.

i dont know what it is!

[evol90accord]

I took it on a long 30 minute drive or so, and after it warmed up real well I shut it off and turned it back on... the problem was gone, the light didn't come on and it idled perfect. So I hung out with friends for a few hours, and when I started her up again the light comes on. I drive it for about 5 minutes to get it up to temperature, shut it off and turn it back on and the problem is gone again. So obviously the heat has something to do with it.

Which wire is the heater wire so I can trace it? Also, what should I check on the IAC if thats still the problem? Thanks for the help!

[evol90accord]

Bumpity bump bump. I want this car in tip top shape for the meet in Phoenix, and this is the last step I have to take to get it there as far as the engine is concerned... Please help!

[StickyDilJoe]

I know that the Bosch heated O2's NEVER work on Honda's. I sell them at my job and I've had personal experience with them. Other than that the honda sensors should be fine, just make sure you have the correct one for your vehicle.

[wed3k]

yea, someone explain the IAC thing again? search wont allow 3 lettered searches.

[green5thgen]

The IAC has nothing to do with the O2 sensor heating circut. But it may still cause this code. I will explain a the end of this reply. The Bosch universal O2 sensors don't work very well on these cars. Try tracing the yellow black wire(+) and the green blue wire(-). These are the heater circut wires. Also if you car is running rich it will take a minute or two longer to warm up and the ECU throws the code if the O2 sensor has not reached 600* 120 seconds after the car is started. If the car is running rich it will not reach this temp by 2 minutes. If the IAC is bad, it will cause the car to run richer than normal and thus cause the car to take longer to heat up.

[accordztech]

I know that the Bosch heated O2's NEVER work on Honda's. I sell them at my job and I've had personal experience with them. Other than that the honda sensors should be fine, just make sure you have the correct one for your vehicle.

hehe good thing i jacked this one lol.

it works fine, but after a run and letting it sit for a bit and then starting again it throws a code...or when its hella cold.

[Mista Juice]

i replaced my moms coworkers sensor with a bosch one and had no problems whatsoever..

[evol90accord]

The IAC has nothing to do with the O2 sensor heating circut. But it may still cause this code. I will explain a the end of this reply. The Bosch universal O2 sensors don't work very well on these cars. Try tracing the yellow black wire(+) and the green blue wire(-). These are the heater circut wires. Also if you car is running rich it will take a minute or two longer to warm up and the ECU throws the code if the O2 sensor has not reached 600* 120 seconds after the car is started. If the car is running rich it will not reach this temp by 2 minutes. If the IAC is bad, it will cause the car to run richer than normal and thus cause the car to take longer to heat up.

2 minutes?? this code pops up after 20 seconds or less on a cold car. As soon as its warmed up though, if i restart the car the code clears. Oddly enough if I just through the 15 year old stock O2 sensor I get absolutely no problems... is it really necessary to replace the O2 sensor as part of a major tuneup?

[green5thgen]

Take your old O2 sensor and check for comtinuity between prongs c and d.
A B
C D

That is facing you with the plug prong to remove it on top. If the continuity between C and D is between .5 and 1.0 its fine and does not need to be replaced. Good Luck.

[evol90accord]

I'm not an electrical guy, how do i test continuity? I know how to test resistance, but I don't think my cheapo tester does continuity... I don't know. It was like 10 bucks from Walmart or something like that.