Oxygen Sensor Locations

Silverado96 · September 16, 2008

Hello there, hope everyone is doing well. I have been reading the posts and replies for about two weeks. I must say there are quite a few knowledgable people here. Now for the meat and potatoes. I have a 96 Silverado (1GCEK19M9TE113609), 5.0L, A/T, Z71. I have an SES light, which our handy Snap-On scanner from work tells me is a P0147, (Bank 1 Sensor 3). Voltage for that sensor is (low) .400 to .500. The other three are at .800 to .900. The question is which one is number three?? I have single exhaust and there is one on each downpipe from the exhaust manifold, then a Y-pipe to bring the two downpipes together, then an O2 sensor, then the CAT, and one more after the Cat. I am thinking it is the one after the Y, before the Cat. I could unplug it and watch the voltage, but why do that when I can just ask? Any particular brand of sensor anyone prefers or recommends. I have used Bosch before, they seem to work alright. And if possible, could somebody run the VIN? I just bought the truck three weeks ago (91000 miles), and would like to know if all recalls have been addressed. Thanx in advance!!

merlin5577 · September 16, 2008

Hello there, hope everyone is doing well. I have been reading the posts and replies for about two weeks. I must say there are quite a few knowledgable people here. Now for the meat and potatoes. I have a 96 Silverado (1GCEK19M9TE113609), 5.0L, A/T, Z71. I have an SES light, which our handy Snap-On scanner from work tells me is a P0147, (Bank 1 Sensor 3). Voltage for that sensor is (low) .400 to .500. The other three are at .800 to .900. The question is which one is number three?? I have single exhaust and there is one on each downpipe from the exhaust manifold, then a Y-pipe to bring the two downpipes together, then an O2 sensor, then the CAT, and one more after the Cat. I am thinking it is the one after the Y, before the Cat. I could unplug it and watch the voltage, but why do that when I can just ask? Any particular brand of sensor anyone prefers or recommends. I have used Bosch before, they seem to work alright. And if possible, could somebody run the VIN? I just bought the truck three weeks ago (91000 miles), and would like to know if all recalls have been addressed. Thanx in advance!!

You should have four oxygen sensors, 2 before the catalytic converters, 2 after. Bank 1 sensor 3 I believe is the drivers side rear sensor. If 1 sensor is bad, it is a good bet the others are not far behind. Save yourself future hassles and replace them all.

I have always used bosch sensors and have them in my Suburban. Every vehicle I have ever had and replaced them with bosch sensors have never had to be replaced afterwards.

No one on the site can run VIN's anymore. Long story.

Good luck.

minibike132 · September 16, 2008

Hello there, hope everyone is doing well. I have been reading the posts and replies for about two weeks. I must say there are quite a few knowledgable people here. Now for the meat and potatoes. I have a 96 Silverado (1GCEK19M9TE113609), 5.0L, A/T, Z71. I have an SES light, which our handy Snap-On scanner from work tells me is a P0147, (Bank 1 Sensor 3). Voltage for that sensor is (low) .400 to .500. The other three are at .800 to .900. The question is which one is number three?? I have single exhaust and there is one on each downpipe from the exhaust manifold, then a Y-pipe to bring the two downpipes together, then an O2 sensor, then the CAT, and one more after the Cat. I am thinking it is the one after the Y, before the Cat. I could unplug it and watch the voltage, but why do that when I can just ask? Any particular brand of sensor anyone prefers or recommends. I have used Bosch before, they seem to work alright. And if possible, could somebody run the VIN? I just bought the truck three weeks ago (91000 miles), and would like to know if all recalls have been addressed. Thanx in advance!!

You should have four oxygen sensors, 2 before the catalytic converters, 2 after. Bank 1 sensor 3 I believe is the drivers side rear sensor. If 1 sensor is bad, it is a good bet the others are not far behind. Save yourself future hassles and replace them all.

I have always used bosch sensors and have them in my Suburban. Every vehicle I have ever had and replaced them with bosch sensors have never had to be replaced afterwards.

No one on the site can run VIN's anymore. Long story.

Good luck.

As far as the vin I ran it and feel ok telling you that you have no outstanding recalls. I don't feel bad about running one for that reason, they should be run anytime there is any inquiry to any vehicle to check for recalls, that is a saftey thing.

For the o2s question if you have a single exhaust then sensor 3 will be the one post catalyst. I have to take issue with the thought that seems to be common here that if one sensor is bad then the rest are soon to follow. That is never the case unless you have a missfire that has killed the sensors. I am wrong sometimes but I can tell you that I am in a small shop and if my vehicles come back with a similar problem I am the one that sees them. Sensors DO NOT FAIL IN BATCHES unless there is an outside influence usually in the way of raw fuel. As far as what to replace it with I go OE it just depends on who the supplier was on the original. Bosch is a common one but I would go with Delco on a 96, I'm pretty sure the supplier on that one was Delco. Long ago there were problems with aftermarket sensors and after being burned by them a few times I stuck to whatever GM was packaging for the application. It's been a long time since I've seen an aftermarket sensor have short life issues, I think the aftermarket started producing better product and they are all pretty much a safe bet anymore.

minibike132 · September 16, 2008

And hey welcome to the site .

Silverado96 · September 16, 2008

And hey welcome to the site .

Thank you sparkstech and Merlin. I am enjoying the site very much. As I said, I have single exhaust. The pipe runs down the passenger side after the Y-pipe. There is only one sensor on the drivers side downtube (also one on passenger side downtube). Then there is one (before Cat) after the Y-pipe. Then the Cat, then the one post Cat sensor. I know that bank 1 should signify driver side, but there is only one on the drivers side downtube, no other untill after the y-pipe, which is located under passenger side of vehicle.

merlin5577 · September 16, 2008

As far as the vin I ran it and feel ok telling you that you have no outstanding recalls. I don't feel bad about running one for that reason, they should be run anytime there is any inquiry to any vehicle to check for recalls, that is a saftey thing.

Your a good man for doing that.

For the o2s question if you have a single exhaust then sensor 3 will be the one post catalyst. I have to take issue with the thought that seems to be common here that if one sensor is bad then the rest are soon to follow. That is never the case unless you have a missfire that has killed the sensors. I am wrong sometimes but I can tell you that I am in a small shop and if my vehicles come back with a similar problem I am the one that sees them. Sensors DO NOT FAIL IN BATCHES unless there is an outside influence usually in the way of raw fuel.

But I dissagree with the rest of your statement. Numerous things can contribute to an oxygen sensor going bad. Everything from coolant in the exhaust (which instantly renders an 02 sensor useless), to much fuel (like you said), too high an exhaust temperature, the possibilities are endless. It stands to reason that whatever took out the one sensor also had an impact on the other sensors. My original statement was made in an effort to stave off future problems. Yes, a singular sensor can get worn our from age and go bad, but sensors can also "GO BAD IN BATCHES" as you put it.

merlin5577 · September 16, 2008

And hey welcome to the site .

Thank you sparkstech and Merlin. I am enjoying the site very much. As I said, I have single exhaust. The pipe runs down the passenger side after the Y-pipe. There is only one sensor on the drivers side downtube (also one on passenger side downtube). Then there is one (before Cat) after the Y-pipe. Then the Cat, then the one post Cat sensor. I know that bank 1 should signify driver side, but there is only one on the drivers side downtube, no other untill after the y-pipe, which is located under passenger side of vehicle.

Your welcome, and welcome to the site.

minibike132 · September 16, 2008

The last part of that quote is "unless there is an outside influence" missfires are what I pointed out because they are what I find most common. I see your point that you give that advice to stave off future problems and I can appreciate that. I come from the point when people ask the gm tech they come for a little education and alot of saving money. Replacing all of the sensors without a fault is the opposite of saving money. But hey replacing them all is not going to cause any problems so if you want to knock yourself out.

minibike132 · September 16, 2008

And hey welcome to the site .

Thank you sparkstech and Merlin. I am enjoying the site very much. As I said, I have single exhaust. The pipe runs down the passenger side after the Y-pipe. There is only one sensor on the drivers side downtube (also one on passenger side downtube). Then there is one (before Cat) after the Y-pipe. Then the Cat, then the one post Cat sensor. I know that bank 1 should signify driver side, but there is only one on the drivers side downtube, no other untill after the y-pipe, which is located under passenger side of vehicle.

Bank 1 is which ever side has the odd cylinders. In your case bank1 sensor 1 is the one on the odd side and bank 2 sensor 1 is on the even side. Since the next sensor is after the Y it is considered bank 1 sensor 2 and that would make the last or post cat sensor bank 1 sensor 3.

merlin5577 · September 16, 2008

The last part of that quote is "unless there is an outside influence" missfires are what I pointed out because they are what I find most common. I see your point that you give that advice to stave off future problems and I can appreciate that. I come from the point when people ask the gm tech they come for a little education and alot of saving money. Replacing all of the sensors without a fault is the opposite of saving money. But hey replacing them all is not going to cause any problems so if you want to knock yourself out.

I see your point Mike. We agree to our seperate (yet valid) points of view.

Silverado96 · September 16, 2008

And hey welcome to the site .

Thank you sparkstech and Merlin. I am enjoying the site very much. As I said, I have single exhaust. The pipe runs down the passenger side after the Y-pipe. There is only one sensor on the drivers side downtube (also one on passenger side downtube). Then there is one (before Cat) after the Y-pipe. Then the Cat, then the one post Cat sensor. I know that bank 1 should signify driver side, but there is only one on the drivers side downtube, no other untill after the y-pipe, which is located under passenger side of vehicle.

Bank 1 is which ever side has the odd cylinders. In your case bank1 sensor 1 is the one on the odd side and bank 2 sensor 1 is on the even side. Since the next sensor is after the Y it is considered bank 1 sensor 2 and that would make the last or post cat sensor bank 1 sensor 3.

I got it now. Thanks again.