All three lights came on just before 59,000 miles, while driving. I have had vehicle serviced at Mfr recommended intervals - most recently 45 days ago. Advance Auto store scanner check of the vehicle's computer reads code 0051, "Heat Sensor Low" (my recollection of the code # may be off but not the description). I had him erase the code but all three of the lights came back on after a few miles of driving.
Any thoughts on possible causes and some inexpensive fixes that I could try myself? My dealer recommends $120 diagnostics, plus repair costs. Another Toyota service provider suggested I check for loose vacuum hose before bringing it in (but I really don't know where to look).
Regards,
Frank
Hello. I would be glad to assist you. Since I cannot read any of the previous attempts at solutions to your problem, I have to start fresh.
First, a P-0051 code indicates that you have an Air-fuel Sensor/Heater circuit "low".
To explain how it works, Air-Fuel sensors are inserted into the exhaust system. They do not begin to function until the temperature of the sensor reaches 640 degrees F. To better assist the sensors to start measurement and adjustments, a HEATER is built into the sensors, to raise the temperature to the optimum 640 degrees F sooner.
What you have is a bad heater part of the Air-Fuel sensor (Bank 2, Sensor 1). (Passenger side FRONT sensor). This will NOT harm the vehicle, nor will it harm the driving. It will compromise your fuel mileage slightly.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: Go to a Toyota Dealership parts department. Buy a new Air-Fuel sensor (bank 2, sensor 1). (Note that Autozone and aftermarket sensors will NOT fix this problem; the output voltage is lower than the factory unit. If you buy an aftermarket sensor, do not expect the light to go off.) Safely raise the vehicle. Remove the front Sensor right after the exhaust manifold on the passenger side. Fit the new sensor and connect it. Drive the vehicle.
The ECU should see the correct sensor operation after TWO separate trips/drive cycles.
Thank you for choosing the FixYa Premium service. I trust that my solution to you problem will correct your issue 100%. I am a Toyota Service manager.
Plese feel free to comment back if you need any further assistance!
Previous expert suggested replacing the "air intake temperature sensor" but, I am unable to locate a replacement part (searched online for this phrase on several sources, incl. Advance Auto, Toyota, PartsTrain)
Replacing the Air Intake sensor will not rectify your condition. That will be a huge waste of money, as it is not the cause of your problem. Thanks.
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Replace the O2 sensor for cylinder bank #2, that is the sensor before the catalytic converter, bank 2 is the back across from the bank that # 1 cylinder is in, disconnect the battery for 5 minutes and see if that clears the problem. see photo of engine banks
all the last posts are correct as is mine, replace the O2 sensor with a factory sensor as discribed, this is the correct solution, these lights are triggered by this failure.
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Please select FixYa and credit will be issued properly.
You can get the required part at
www.autozone.com
check out.
thanks.
You will probably need to replace the air intake temperature sensor that is faulty. This is located on the air intake, and cause troubles with engine rough or shut down, particularly when idling at cold.
If replacing the sensor does not fix the problem , then check fuel pressure and vacuum system, this can be done with an hand gauge tool like the one below.
You can find part prices and purchase scan reader and fuel pressure tool here:Find Auto Parts and Truck Parts
Here Vacuum/Fuel pressure tester: KD Tools Fuel Pump Vacuum & Pressure Tester
About vacuum leaks see also: Engine Vacuum Leaks
P-0051 code indicates that you have an Air-fuel Sensor/Heater circuit "low". is , as said by Toyota Ed the O2 sensor.
If you want to reward ED write an email to [email protected], or to contact our experts' community manager [email protected]. I will also call attention of community manager on this.
Thanks for using Fixya.
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Previous expert suggested replacing the "air intake temperature sensor" but, I am unable to locate a replacement part (searched online for this phrase on several sources, incl. Advance Auto, Toyota, PartsTrain)
Thanks for the suggestion. I found a replacement part on the AutoZone site suggested, made by Holley Performance (part 9920-107) for $36.99. However, it is a special order part that will take up to 5 days to receive via shipping. They don't provide an image of the part or replacement instructions. So, I checked Holley's website - and they don't offer an image of the part either but - the replacement instruction reads, "screws into intake plenum".
This sounds very easy to do but, I don't know where to find the intake plenum on my vehicle (not even sure what it looks like) and could not find any guideance for DIY'ers for this on the Toyota website or owner's manual. Is there any instruction with visual aids available (I'm not a Toyota mechanic but am willing to try doing this myself).
I'm also a little concerned about driving the vehicle with this problem for up to 5 more days, with the possibility that this part is not the source of the problem or that this is not the correct intake air temp sensor for my vehicle. Any other advice or suggestions? Thanks!
I appreciate the advice from the previous two experts, and the link to the suggested replacement part, but I'm asking for DIY guidance on how to replace this part myself. I would appreciate assistance from an expert that includes instructions - or a link to instructions (including some visual aid to help locate the part on my vehicle, and tools req'd) for replacing the intake air temperature sensor in this vehicle myself. Thanks in advance!
Thanks, ToyotaEd. You sound confident and your solution sounds fairly easy to do. I will definitely purchase the replacement part later today. Not having worked underneath this vehicle before, I can't quite visualize the location of the part but your direction narrows it down. Before I formally accept the solution and (I assume) lose contact with you, I wanted to ask a follow up: do you know what tool is required (i.e., metric socket wrench, etc) in order to change out the part?
Also, are any visual aids available on the web that would help me locate the part? If not, I'll certainly ask the dealer for any information that may help.
BTW: my dealer wanted to charge $120 diagnostic fee to tell me what the trouble code meant... so, many thanks to you!
Please fwd to ToyotaEd:
I did not get a chance to respond to you, or to accept your solution as I had intended to do. I tried to reply to your solution with an additional question asking for more info but someone else replied in your place and the status under your solution says that I "did not accept the solution" so, I must have done something wrong. I was looking for further guideance as to how to replace the Air-Fuel sensor (bank 2, sensor 1) as per your recommendation. I had to special order the part yesterday but it should be here before the weekend....
The person that responded gave me instructions for replacing an O2 sensor but, I'm not sure that is the same sensor as the one you suggested. Any chance you can assist, or at the very least for me to accept YOUR solution?
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Hello. I would be glad to assist you. Since I cannot read any of the previous attempts at solutions to your problem, I have to start fresh.
First, a P-0051 code indicates that you have an Air-fuel Sensor/Heater circuit "low".
To explain how it works, Air-Fuel sensors are inserted into the exhaust system. They do not begin to function until the temperature of the sensor reaches 640 degrees F. To better assist the sensors to start measurement and adjustments, a HEATER is built into the sensors, to raise the temperature to the optimum 640 degrees F sooner.
What you have is a bad heater part of the Air-Fuel sensor (Bank 2, Sensor 1). (Passenger side FRONT sensor). This will NOT harm the vehicle, nor will it harm the driving. It will compromise your fuel mileage slightly.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: Go to a Toyota Dealership parts department. Buy a new Air-Fuel sensor (bank 2, sensor 1). (Note that Autozone and aftermarket sensors will NOT fix this problem; the output voltage is lower than the factory unit. If you buy an aftermarket sensor, do not expect the light to go off.) Safely raise the vehicle. Remove the front Sensor right after the exhaust manifold on the passenger side. Fit the new sensor and connect it. Drive the vehicle.
The ECU should see the correct sensor operation after TWO separate trips/drive cycles.
Thank you for choosing the FixYa Premium service. I trust that my solution to you problem will correct your issue 100%. I am a Toyota Service manager.
Plese feel free to comment back if you need any further assistance!
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