Problems and Complications with O2 Sensors on 96 D1

Hello from Adam , owner of a 1996 D1 with 95k miles. :drive:

Since I purchased my Landi over the summer, I always had a minor annoyance. Every 100 miles, the Check Engine light would turn on. I got my hands on a OBD2 code reader, it gave me a P0130. Thats the o2 sensor on the drivers exhaust manifold. The O2 sensor was nearing its functional lifespan. With the onset of the late North American winter, the period of resetting the ECU are going from one a week to every other day.

I went to my Trusty auto shop. They go great work with my previous auto but I guess it is their first time with a LandRover. Asked for a price for a replacement o2 sensor. Their parts distributor was asking $290 for the o2 sensor and then $27 for the labor. They were cool. They said get the sensor and we will drop it in for you.

Today, I finally got a replacement O2 sensor (A LR replacement from www.northeastbritishparts.com for a great price ($105.00) and got it over to my trusted shop. At least it was trusted when I had a Mitsu Mirage. I ended up with a mechanic whose best description of electrical work is the Butcher Barber from Fleet Street. With a good working lift, I don't see why he had to butcher the sensor cables off the old sensors to remove the oxygen sensors.

He finally replaced the faulty oxygen sensor on the exhaust manifold, took out the downstream sensor for whatever reason is beyond me and put it back and now...........there are no oxygen sensor signal voltages going to the ECU. Put the OBD2 code reader on and read the stats and now the voltages coming out of all four o2 sensors are all 0.00. Now all I have to figure out is whether the butcher destroyed the harness that runs to the ECU (most probably he hit the ground return or dogged the harness to the ECU) or, worst case scenario of all, the ECU took a major hit in the A/D section. I don't look forward to getting a new ECU.

One thing I noticed when I had the Discovery off is that the code reader would continue to get information from the ECU. I didn't know that the ECU was on all the time.

When is this going to be fun?

Meanwhile, the engine is running thick and every 30 miles the MIL light lets me know all is not well.

Sigh.

Now what?

Adam