FURIOUS!! I need to ask you a question

[bimmerfan620]

Hey, I know you work with a shop on bimmers, so I wanted to throw this question by you to see if you know. I just had a CE light come on, so I pulled a code by doing the floor it 5 times drill, and i'm getting a bad o2 sensor #1. the code number is a 1221. Do you happen to know which sensor is #1??

[Furious]

ya i sort of work in a shop , its more like stand around and help when needed or stand around and learn a whole whack of info :lol: , i have the link in my signature,

code 1221 if i remember is 02 sensor number 1, i think code 1212 is O2 number 2. hope this helps you out, lemme know if you have any further questions

[bimmerfan620]

Ya, i'm pretty much set, I just ordered my manual on cd so I'm a little S.O.L. until it comes. are all the o2 sensors on the exhaust pipes? just so I know?

[bimmerfan620]

by the way bro, I appreciate any help you've ever given me, as goes for the rest of you guys..

[whitebeemer328]

to find out which one it is unplug one of them wait for the ce they see what number it is a process of elimination

[El Presidente]

I could be mistaken, and I probably am, but I belive o2 sensor 1 is part of the Mass Airflow meter near the intake.

[bimmerfan620]

ok, i'll have to take a picture of my intake, i believe I have an idea of what you are talking about.

[Furious]

your welcome bro, anytime thats why im here

[325i2NV]

I believe it depends on what year your E36 is. Certain years there are 2 O2 sensors and some have 1 O2 sensor. I just change my out on my 93 and I have only one O2 sensor just right before the Cat.

For years with 2 O2 sensors one is before the Cat and one is after. The one before the Cat being sensor #1. Both sensors are on the exhaust piping.

hope that helps.

[fernguy]

325iNV is correct. The rear o2 sensor are usually on cars model years 1995 and on.They are normally found on cars that are OBDII REQUIRED.That is a California Emission Standard.Based on engine size and engine year.

All o2 sensors are located only in the exhaust system.The o2 sensor in front of the Cat. Converter is for fuel management. It is used by the PCM ( engine computer) to determine fuel pulse width ( injector on time).
The o2 sensor generates a higher voltage in the absense of oxygen .About .9 volts D/C when the exhaust is rich.And a lean exhaust is about .02 volts.
A good running engine at idle should show a voltage varying from .4 to .7 volts.
The o2 sensor after the Cat Converter is used to monitor Cat converter efficiency.
Both sensor can be test with a Digital Volt Meter only.You can not use a analog volt-meter.

[Furious]

correct you are (like yoda)
late models only had one early models had two o2's


i double checked myself today on 4 different cars, -1994 325 (mine), 1992 325, 1998 328, 1996 318

[DesmoBob]

the fact that you were able to do the 5-tap gas pedal tap dance to retrive codes inherently means you have obd I, therefore you have only one seonsor.

[Andrewsd1985]

Desmobob says that you have obd1 which would mean that you have two o2 sensors.