DTC P0135, P0141 & P0155: Ho2S Heater Circuit - Bank 1 & 2, Sensors 1 & 2 (Astro & Safari): Description

The Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) is a sensor designed to create a voltage relative to the oxygen content in the engine exhaust stream. The control module supplies the HO2S with signal high and low circuits. Ignition voltage and ground are supplied to the HO2S heater by independent circuits. The oxygen content of the exhaust indicates when the engine is operating lean or rich. When the HO2S detects that the engine is operating rich, the signal voltage is high, and decreases the signal voltage as the engine runs leaner. This oscillation above and below the bias voltage, sometimes referred to as activity or switching, can be monitored with the HO2S signal voltage. The HO2S heater quickly warms the sensor to operating temperature. The heater also maintains the operating temperature during extended idle conditions. The HO2S must reach a high temperature to produce a voltage. When the HO2S reaches operating temperature, the control module monitors the HO2S bias, or reference, voltage. The control module the HO2S signal voltage for Closed Loop fuel control. During normal Closed Loop fuel control operation, the control module will add fuel, or enrich the mixture, when the HO2S detects a lean exhaust content. The control module will subtract fuel, or "lean-out" the mixture, when the HO2S detects a rich exhaust condition. This DTC determines if the HO2S heater circuit is functioning properly by monitoring the time required for the HO2S to reach the operating temperature. This DTC sets when the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) fails to detect HO2S voltage transitions above and below the bias range within a specified amount of time.