P0136 means O2 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2). The computer has detected a fault in the circuit of the downstream bank 1 oxygen sensor, the one after the catalytic converter. The downstream sensor mainly monitors the catalytic converter, so drivability is usually normal. It is a generic OBD-II code, so the definition is the same on any make, but the most likely cause varies by engine; confirm with a scan tool and the service information for your vehicle before buying parts.
What P0136 means
Oxygen sensors measure the oxygen left in the exhaust. Sensor 1 sits before the catalytic converter and is used for fuel control; sensor 2 sits after it and mainly monitors the converter. Most sensors have a heater so they start working soon after a cold start. A traditional zirconia sensor switches between about 0.1 volt (lean) and 0.9 volt (rich); many newer upstream sensors are wide-band air-fuel sensors that report differently, so check which type your engine uses.
P0136 symptoms
- Check engine light
- Possible poor fuel economy
- Failed emissions inspection
Common causes of P0136
- Aged or contaminated sensor
- Wiring short or open, or a damaged connector
- Exhaust leak near the sensor
- A real lean or rich condition the sensor is reporting
How to diagnose P0136
- Look at fuel trims to see whether the engine is really lean or rich
- Watch the sensor voltage switch on a scan tool at a steady 2,500 rpm
- Inspect the wiring and connector near the exhaust
- Check for exhaust leaks ahead of the sensor
Can you drive with P0136?
Usually yes in the short term; repair before an emissions inspection and to protect fuel economy.
P0136 tips
Downstream sensor codes rarely affect how the engine runs, but they can prevent the catalytic converter monitor from completing, which matters for emissions inspection.
Will P0136 clear itself?
If the fault stops, the computer turns off the check engine light by itself after several drive cycles without seeing it again, and the code stays in memory as history for a while. Clearing P0136 with a scan tool after a repair is fine, but if the cause is still there the code returns, sometimes within one drive. Disconnecting the battery also clears codes on most vehicles, but it erases learned fuel trims and idle settings as well.
Related codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| P0137 | O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank 1 Sensor 2) |
| P0138 | O2 Sensor Circuit High Voltage (Bank 1 Sensor 2) |
| P0141 | O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2) |
Guides that help
When it is more than a sensor
Oxygen sensor codes are fixed with a sensor, wiring, a fuse or an exhaust leak repair. An engine burning oil or coolant contaminates sensors quickly; if new sensors keep failing, check for blue or white exhaust smoke and a head gasket leak, and compare engines by code on our engines page if the engine is worn out.
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