I have a 2005 Honda Accord 2.4L EX AT. My malfunction light came on today. I double-checked the gas cap and it was firmly on (3 clicks). The car didn’t seem to have any trouble running. So I went to Autozone to have the code pulled up and this was what I got: P0141, HO2S12 (Heated oxygen sensor – Bank 1 Sensor 2) circuit heater malfunction. Possible cause: (1) open or short circuit condition, (2) poor electrical connection, (3) faulty HO2S12 (Bank 1 Sensor 2).

I called my mechanic and he said it could also be that I got ‘bad gas’ (pumped gas the day before, and the light came on the 2nd time I started my car today). He recommended resetting the light and see if it comes back on again. I’m just concerned because I will be driving approx 480 miles this coming weekend. If it is something bad, I don’t know if I should risk driving that long distance before getting things fixed. Does anybody have any thoughts/suggestions?

Thank you!

 

That sensor is the O2 sensor that is bolted into the catalytic converter. You can check the electrical connector. It is inside the car under the passenger seat (I think). EDIT: You can look to see where the sensor enters the car by following the wire from the O2 sensor bolted into the catalytic converter. I think it might be under the carpet in there.

That O2 sensor only measures how the catalytic converter is working. It will not change the performance of the car.