Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'98
Toyota Camry, Cause of P1133
Q:
My
’98 Toyota Camry has a computer code #P1133 code that comes
and goes. What could this be caused by?
- Dave
A:
The computer
code P1133 is for a heater circuit malfunction for the oxygen sensor.
Most vehicles today have heated oxygen sensors. The reason for heating
these sensors? The information an oxygen sensor provides to the
vehicle’s computer allows the computer to manage emissions,
but more importantly optimize the air fuel mixture. Heating the
sensor allows it to reach operating temperature more quickly resulting
in reduced exhaust emissions and improved fuel efficiency. The heating
element is built into the sensor and is controlled by the computer.
It is not uncommon for the heating elements to fail. It is likely
that the heating element in your Toyota’s oxygen sensor is
on the way out and the computer is alerting you to this problem.
The reason the code keeps coming and going? It just isn’t
broken all the way yet.
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