Can other reasons cause service engine light to come on even when the diagnostic scan says its a sensor?

Question

My service engine light is on my car. I have a 2001 Chrysler Sebring with almost 169,000 miles on it. When I had it scanned at a local auto parts store the result was a bad oxygen sensor, bank 1 sensor two. Can something else cause this other then a bad sensor??

Answer 1

On board computer diagnostics have come a long way. On a 2001 Chrysler there is also a code for a bank running rich or lean, as well as for cylinder miss-fire.

Because the computer looks for other failures, I doubt that the failure is else where.

Answer 2

Some cars have a CHECK ENGINE warning light.  Some cars have a SERVICE ENGINE SOON light. In either case, it means that a FAULT CODE has been set.  You would normally need a FAULT CODE READER to get a number that would tell you which FAULT CODE is causing the CHECK ENGINE warning light to come on.  There are at least 100 FAULT CODES that can be read out by the On Board Diagnostics program.  In your case, the engine appears to have 4 Oxygen sensors;  the bank one, sensor number two is reporting a problem.  You should replace the faulty oxygen sensor.  Or replace all four oxygen sensors because of your high mileage.

Answer 3

Absolutely.  An O2 sensor fault code can be triggered by lots of things other than a bad O2 sensor.  Vacuum leaks,exhaust leaks, fuel delivery problems, bad catalytic converter,... you name it.  Contrary to popular belief there is not a single fault code that says "this part is bad, replace it."  The fault codes merely tell you where an abnormal condition was detected.  Not what or why.  

You could replace the sensor.  It may be bad, it may not.  You won't know until you try.  Or you could have the problem properly diagnosed to make sure it is not something else.  

Answer 4

if the cat converter is bad or there is an exhaust leak before the cat that will do it too.

Answer 5

have you changed the sensors

hope this helps