P0032 - Oxygen (A/F) Sensor Heater Control Circuit High (Bank 1 Sensor 1)

OBD-II Trouble Code Technical Description

Oxygen (A/F) Sensor Heater Control Circuit High (Bank 1 Sensor 1)

What does that mean?

A P0032 DTC (diagnostic trouble code) refers to the O2 sensor (oxygen sensor) located on Bank 1 in front of the catalytic converter. There is also an oxygen sensor behind the converter which is Sensor #2.

This O2 sensor #1 may also be refered to as an air/fuel ratio sensor since on some vehicles it is. The sensor detects the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gas compared to the outside air and then vehicle's computer adjusts the air/fuel ratio going into the engine. The sensor is less effective when the exhaust gas temperature is low, so it includes a heater which is activated to help get better readings from the O2 sensor. Essentially this P0032 code means that the resistance of the heater circuit is higher than normal. In some cases, that resistance level must be higher than 10 A to trigger the DTC code.

Note, this code is very similar in nature to P0031, P0051, and P0052

Potential Symptoms

Most likely you'll not notice any symptoms other than the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp, a.k.a. the check engine light) will illuminate.

Causes

A P0032 DTC trouble code may be caused by one or more of the following:

• A short in the heater circuit in the sensor
• A failed O2 sensor heater
• Wiring/connectors broken/frayed leading to sensor and/or relay
• Failed PCM/ECM

Possible Solutions

Need an O2 Sensor? Visit our O2 Sensor shopping area for the lowest price on your replacement sensor!

To fix a P0032 DTC code, you'll need to do a proper diagnosis. To do that, you'll want to inspect the wiring and connectors leading to the sensor. Also if equipped with a heater relay and fuse, you'll want to check those as well. Use a digital volt ohm meter to:

• check for 12 volts at the heater circuit feed (hint: unplug the sensor and check at the wiring connector to do this measurement)
• check the ground circuit for continuity
• measure the resistance of the heater circuit (done on the sensor itself)
• measure the resistance and voltage of the wiring

Refer to a service manual for the correct specifications (volts, ohms) for your vehicle. On some Toyota vehicles this code is triggered when the resistance of the heater circuit is above 10 A.

With that said, a common fix for this DTC is to replace the air/fuel (O2 oxygen) sensor #2 on bank 1.

Please keep in mind that OEM (original equipment) replacement sensors are recommended (from the dealer). Aftermarket sensors can be less reliable and of poorer quality (not always, but more often). There's also a chance that replacement parts for the P0032 code may also fall under a federal emissions warranty (check with your dealer to see if it's covered).

Need more help?

If you still need help regarding the P0032 trouble code, please post your question in our auto repair forums.

NOTE: This information is presented for information purposes only. It is not intended as repair advice and we are not responsible for any actions you take on any vehicle. All information on this site is copyright protected. If you want to share this article or information with others, please link to this page, don't copy and paste it elsewhere.