Two days back, the Maintenance Indicator light started showing up in the instrument control panel of my Accord. I did some research on internet and found that mostly this light will show up when O2 sensor needs replacement. I saw instruction videos/articles about how to DIY and to avoid spending a lot money. Also, I found that the AAMCO which is near my apartment does free checking to find the code. I went there requested them to provide me the error code. They entered all details about my car in their computer and then, got my signature as an approval for diagnosis. After diagnosis, they told me that the secondary O2 sensor needs replacement. Also, they told me a quote of about $200 to replace sensor. When I told them I don't want to fix it now, they didn't give me the report having error code and the quote (but I saw the code P0141 on the sheet which they had).

In order to have a proof of error code and also to confirm it again, I went to an AUTOZONE and requested them to check the error code. They checked the error code without tracking any details of the car (like VIN# etc.). The VIN# appeared to be P0141 as I expected. They printed the description of that error code handed it over to me. The overall process took only about 5 minutes where as I waited for more than half an hour at AAMCO.

Now, though it was a free diagnosis at AAMCO, I am wondering if they report the details about faulty secondary O2 sensor of my car to vehicle history report (which I don't want to). I am worried about this because if I buy a new sensor and replace the faulty one myself, the fix details will not appear in history but the history will show that the car has some faulty sensor. Can someone please let me know if free diagnosis details will be reported by car repairers to vehicle history report?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

That I do not know. Keep the reciept of either the repair or purchase of part and don't worry.

Sensors go bad, especially O2's. If they go 100k, you are doing pretty good. Yes, there are some that go much longer but I bet if you watched the output switching they would be slow in doing so....not slow enough to set a code but I'd be willing to bet they are slow enough to cause issues.

Me personally, if I was buying a car and had documents that told me there was an issue with the O2 and it was taken care of at X miles...that would actually be a good thing tune up done at X, ect.....

 

The current mileage of car is about 50K.

 

Well, hang on. Check the emissions warranty.......my tiny head says it might be covered.....or am I thinking of the cat.....dang now I have to go look.

Nevermind....checked, the cat is 8/80.

 

Thank you Poorman.
Is oxygen sensor covered under federal emission warranty?
The first owner bought it on 24th Jan, '04. Does that mean the warranty is covered under 24th of this month?

 

My guess (emphasis on guess) is that they input the info about you and your car into their own database so that if you come back to them down the road, you will already be set up for service. I wouldn't be surprised if you got correspondence from them soon giving you a sales pitch to have your car brought in. I'm thinking that it would not show up on any Carfax report. Even if it does, keep the receipt for the new sensor and show it to anyone who questions it. Aamco is pretty slimy, IMHO, and I would try to avoid them. There are better alternatives out there.

 

I do not think that the O2 is covered under the 8_80 warrenty a call to a honda store may help. That code is for the heater ckt of the O2 thay go bad all the time not a bad job but a little tricky becous it plugs in under the rt. ft. seat

 

Good post with some info to take a look at..
Thanks Guys..