P0141 means O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2). The heater in the downstream bank 1 oxygen sensor is not working or its circuit is faulty. 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 P0141 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.
P0141 symptoms
- Check engine light
- Usually no drivability change
Common causes of P0141
- Failed heater element inside the sensor (most common)
- Blown heater fuse
- Damaged wiring, often from contact with the exhaust
- Heater control fault
How to diagnose P0141
- Check the heater fuse
- Measure heater resistance at the connector
- Inspect the harness along the exhaust and underbody
Can you drive with P0141?
Yes; repair it so the monitoring system works.
P0141 tips
Downstream heater circuits often run along the transmission or underbody, where wiring can be damaged by heat, road debris or careless jacking. Check the connector and harness before the sensor.
Will P0141 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 P0141 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 |
|---|---|
| P0135 | O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 1) |
| P0137 | O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank 1 Sensor 2) |
| P0138 | O2 Sensor Circuit High Voltage (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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