Oct 5 2009: O2 sensor update: It happened again for the first time since Aug 3, 2 months ago. Also it happened on a Monday afternoon right after starting it to go to work. At the time, I hadn’t started my car in over 50 hours. If I remember correctly, the same situation was true on Aug 3. I hope the coming cold weather won’t be exacerbating the problem.
By the way, I was previously mistaken about when the inspection is due. I though it was due in September, but that was the registration. I think the inspection will be due in March.
Aug 12 2009: My 2003 V6 Nissan Altima seems to have an O2 sensor that is going out.
I have over 80,000 miles on it, so it’s probably about time for it to go out. My inspection is due next month, so I don’t have much time to replace it. Monday Aug 3, the SES / Service Engine Soon light came on. It was OBDII code 0031. I cleared the code at around 8:00 that night and as of today, Wednesday Aug 12, the SES light hasn’t come back on yet. (I hope this will last to the inspection. O2 sensors are expensive.)
I looked up the OBD2 code in the service manual I have. It told me there is an open to the heater in the O2 sensor. It could be a wire as well, I don’t know yet. If I have to, I’ll troubleshoot it in time to renew the car’s inspection. I just hope I don’t have to replace 2 of them at once, like I’ve heard you’re supposed to do when one has to be replaced. This car has 4 O2 sensors altogether.
