P0158 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4.0

[SwampSurvivor]

So this has been coming and going the last few days. This is bank 2 sensor 2 voltage high (it's an inline 6 ... but the rear 3 cylinders). So, there is something going on with the post rear-bank cat oxygen sensor.

My guess is the wires hit the exhaust manifold and melted and shorted.

The problem - and my concern - is once it gets a P0158 it never goes away.

Over the years, I have seen many people on JF replace everything including the oxygen sensor, the little harness from the sensor to the wiring and the computer ... and it just has P0158 forever. Or, once they replace wiring to the computer and in the main wiring harness/loom, it will still have an Oxygen sensor heater code.

That's a problem since I live in the People's Republic of NY. Which means a CEL will cause this to never get an inspection.

I'd hate to scrap the vehicle over a check engine light but I'm afraid I may end up having to once the inspection is up.

Has anyone on here ever had any luck getting rid of this code on one of these Jeeps before? It's a 2000 with the two mini cats in the exhaust manifold.

 

[Donald]

You just need to "buy" an inspection sticker.

 

[SpecM]

Replace the PCM. Code goes bye-bye with it

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
So this has been coming and going the last few days. This is bank 2 sensor 2 voltage high (it's an inline 6 ... but the rear 3 cylinders). So, there is something going on with the post rear-bank cat oxygen sensor.

My guess is the wires hit the exhaust manifold and melted and shorted.

The problem - and my concern - is once it gets a P0158 it never goes away.

Over the years, I have seen many people on JF replace everything including the oxygen sensor, the little harness from the sensor to the wiring and the computer ... and it just has P0158 forever. Or, once they replace wiring to the computer and in the main wiring harness/loom, it will still have an Oxygen sensor heater code.

That's a problem since I live in the People's Republic of NY. Which means a CEL will cause this to never get an inspection.

I'd hate to scrap the vehicle over a check engine light but I'm afraid I may end up having to once the inspection is up.



Jumping the gun, aren't you? Fix the problem and then clear the code, see if it comes back. It may be that a short in the wiring blows the driver in the PCM and that's why so many people report the problem as never going away, but I'll bet that for every one that's reported on the forums, 2 or 3 clear with absolutely no problem for people that have never heard of Jeep Forum, so you just don't see it.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: SpecM
Replace the PCM. Code goes bye-bye with it


I'll need to replace the wiring first along with checking that I don't have any continuity while the sensor is unplugged.

 

[Silverado12]

That sounds like a job for a professional. I would take it to a auto electric place.

 

[artificialist]

In major cities, there seems to be independent repair shops that specialize in only one or two makes of car. Maybe you can find a Jeep specialist. They would have a better understanding what to do.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
In major cities, there seems to be independent repair shops that specialize in only one or two makes of car. Maybe you can find a Jeep specialist. They would have a better understanding what to do.


My mechanic is said Jeep specialist. Seriously - can go to him with an oddball issue and he'll tell you the exact color wire and where it is broken.

Looks like the wires just got tired from 16 years of a 90 degree bend. The back of the oxygen sensor is against the bellhousing of the transmission.

I straightened them out, will put on some electrical tape. Hopefully that works.