Saturday, the Sin City MINI Club did a run to Area 51 to signal the aliens. Note, R56s are no good for this, the headlights don't point at the sky.

Earlier on Saturday, I passed 44000 miles, though my car is well out of warrantee for time. I did buy the extended warrantee through the dealership, so I now have warrantee with a $100 deductible.

Anyway...on the run out there, I got a CEL come on, with no noticible impact on how the car was running. After several power off and back on cycles, it's still on today.

I took the car to Autozone yesterday to get the code read. It is a 0171 - bank 1 too lean. I'm told that it almost certainly means that the o2 sensor is bad. Autozone offered to order me one for $181.

Ok...here are the questions...
1. Is this probably the cause of the 0171 code?
2. Is this something that would normally be covered by warrantee?
3. Is that a reasonable price for an o2 sensor?
4. How difficult is it to replace this sensor myself? I'm not a mechanic but fairly competent with tools.

 

Well I have had the P0171 code as well.. But did not jump to the O2 sensor.. I think mine was due to a small "leak" in the intake path. For example, one of the IC boots slipping off, or in my case the air tube to the throttle body lifted off slightly, I was also running the "VGS" mod at the time.. I have since removed and no problems since.. - but that is a whole other thread.. I have also encountered this code on other MINIs during very hot days..

I see you have the Fireball ECU.. maybe an adjustment is needed in the tune??

Do you remember when the CEL came on and what kind of driving you were doing??
before I fixed my "leaks", I could trip the CEL on with part throttle going up a long hill..

Maybe that helps..

 

113,600 miles (so far) on original o2 sensors. But, it's a Cooper, not an MCS.

 

I was partway up a long hill at part throttle. I've thrown codes before with a loose HAI allowing too much air in, but that sent me into "limp home mode" both times. My intercooler has never been removed. Is there a simple way to test an o2 sensor?

 

here's a link that tells you how to test one with an oscilloscope or a
fast reading digital multimeter. you have to scroll down the window a bit
before you get to the section on testing.
http://www.ngksparkplugs.ca/tech_osinstall.cfm

I've found the analog type multimeter is actually better for this.