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modain
GenIII
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6/10/2006
04:43:11

Subject: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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(Sorry for the ling-winded post, sometimes I just Ramble On!)

At about 99,000 miles my Durango popped up with a MIL code. Doing the key on-off thingy it returned a P0161 error (O2 sensor heater failure). I broke out the tuner and cleared it.

Within a few miles it reappeared. Hmm. I wasn't worried about any cat damage, as this error (as desribed by the Powertrain Diag manual) indicates the preheater in the sensor is not showing voltage/resistance on the heating circuit to be within tolerance. This would mean the O2 sensor will take a little longer to heat up to its peak operating temperature. But it's still working. I cleared it again, only for it to return.

Before I took it to the dealer to get some warranty items fixed I put the stock program back on and cleared the MIL code. Guess what? After a couple hundred miles it hasn't returned...

I called Superchips and discussed this with a very helpful customer service rep. He (and I) think(s) that the sensors are probably still good. The Superchips program (87 at the time - just for tire size and tranny shifting options, and for saving a little $$$) must be a little more stringent on the values it sees from the sensors and set the error. The stock program seems to be a little more "forgiving". It may be I have marginal sesnsor(s) and the stock program is still happy with them, but the Superchips program isn't.

Anyhoo, the crux of this matter is put the stock program back on the truck before trouble shooting an emissions problem indication.

I may crawl under it a few weekends from now to test the sensors. If they are in spec, I hope I can get SC to do something about the invalid code. (I want to put the tuner back on so I can have an accurate speedo/odo.) If they test bad, then I'll replace them.

What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open


Jecht
Dodge Dakota
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6/10/2006
13:52:59

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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you cant blame superchip on this. after all you might have one about to go. and hasnt acted up yet after putting the stock program back in. I would wait and see before putting the superchip program back in. this way it gives it time to fail again in stock program.



Levey
Dodge Dakota
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6/14/2006
23:47:46

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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If you think you have 'marginal' sensors and the stock program is just more forgiving, why would you not just replace them and be done with it???

Id rather not have just marginal parts on my vehicle that may fail at any given time, especially something like an O2 sensor with gas prices these days.



GraphiteDak
GenIII
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6/15/2006
00:04:43

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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Hmm. Weird dude. Almost a year and I have had good luck myself.


I guess replacing the O2's wouldn't be the worst thing to do.






Josh
Dodge Dakota
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6/15/2006
21:22:27

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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Looks like your tuner settings may have revealed a marginal O2 sensor.



modain
GenIII
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6/15/2006
21:50:22

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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A little update on my P0161 situation...

(It turns out that my wife is not the most observant driver. Did I say that out loud?) The P0161 condition has returned with the stock program in place. It just took longer than a couple of miles to activate it like the SC programming did/does.

I'm gonna go ahead and replace them sometime when I have the 4 x $100ish for the fix... I know some guys have said they have found some for less, I'll look for the best deal I can. I'm not in a hurry to replace them. The gas consumption hasn't been affected by the condition.

What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open


Chris
Dodge Dakota
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6/16/2006
16:57:01

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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Hey modain, Advance carries the Bosch O2's in my neck of the woods (deep south FL GA line)for $75ish. This may be a regional thing too. I spent some time up the northeast, and paid about twice as much for parts as locally.
This is for the 4.7, 5.2's are cheaper.



modain
GenIII
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6/16/2006
21:05:25

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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Thanks! I'll check into it.

What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open


modain
GenIII
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6/17/2006
01:22:22

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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Since my truck is a California truck it uses the more expensive and heated sensors - $84 for each upstream, and $100 for each downstream: $368 if I got them at Advance Auto. Thanks for the help. It looks like I'm gonna be paying a lot of $$$ however I find them.

What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open


N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/17/2006
08:36:14

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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What makes you think that you have to replace them all?



modain
GenIII
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6/17/2006
15:38:03

RE: (My 1st) Problem with Superchips Tuner
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Everything I have read indicates it's best to replace the pre and post cat sensors as a pair. If you don't a P0430 code is very likely to manifest.

The sensors are expected to have a lifespan of 100K miles. The truck has a little over 100K on it now.

If I'm chaning out the side that is bad, why not preemptively do the other side while I'm at it? Providing the replacements are as good or better than OEM I won't have to bother with them for another 100K miles...

It sucks when things like this hit at once...

What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open


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