P0153 means O2 Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank 2 Sensor 1). The upstream oxygen sensor on bank 2 is switching between rich and lean too slowly. 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 P0153 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.
P0153 symptoms
- Check engine light
- Poor fuel economy
- Possible hesitation
Common causes of P0153
- Aging or contaminated sensor
- Exhaust leak near the sensor
- Heater circuit fault
- Oil or coolant consumption fouling the sensor
How to diagnose P0153
- Watch the sensor switching rate on a scan tool
- Check for exhaust leaks
- Check for oil or coolant burning
Can you drive with P0153?
Usually yes for a while, but fix it to protect fuel economy and the catalytic converter.
P0153 tips
Slow upstream sensors can also be caused by oil or coolant burning; look for white or blue smoke.
Will P0153 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 P0153 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 |
|---|---|
| P0151 | O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage (Bank 2 Sensor 1) |
| P0154 | O2 Sensor Circuit No Activity Detected (Bank 2 Sensor 1) |
| P0155 | O2 Sensor Heater Circuit (Bank 2 Sensor 1) |
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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