CEL 1221, need some Lambda/ o2 sensor help please..

[87-325ic]

Ok, on the way home from the exhaust shop, after having the new little Cat-converters and pipes welded in, to connect my headers to the catback... The Check Engine Light comes on,

reading :

1221 Lambda (O2) Sensor 1
This code is stored when the engine temperature is >70C and the Oxygen Sensor value is out of range or not present. Check the Oxygen Sensor wiring and the operation of the sensor. The value should fluctuate between 0.02 and 0.85V. Slow fluctuation indicates a polluted Oxygen sensor and negative values indicate a damaged sensor. Note: Cars without Catalytic Convertors will incorrectly store this code.

Now, im thinking that the man welding the pipes on, might have toasted the o2 sensor.. how likely is this? either completely fried it, or its contaminated from the welding down the pipe, (seems unlikely..)
I think that from his grounding point.. to welding, the o2 got toasted in the process..

The code also can be thrown when the converters are not present.. now.. i have converters on it, however they are very small high flowing ones.. will it stil give the code incorrectly for this?
and also.. how would the sensor pick up that the catalytuc converter is not there, when the sensor is ahead of the converter?


what do you all think?


here is the work done..

[e30_kid89]

i had this problem as well for about a month...just change ur o2 sensor they're cheap from the dealer if u do it the right way.......i bought a bosch o2 sensor for e36 318 i think for 34 bux CAD taxes in from the dealer and just cut off my old one and spiced it in..beats 300+ for the original....BUT before you do that try un plugging your battery for overnight to reset the ecu and see what happens in the morning...try the reset first if that dont work they try an cheap o2 sensor it wouldnt hurt...

hope this helps...

[87-325ic]

the exhaust shop might end up buying me a new one.

[trent]

that exhaust work is fucking terrible.

The code should not affect your cats.

They probably, accidently yanked on the wires too hard.

Do they owe you a new one? Probably

Will they fess up and give you one? No.

Just buy one..that is what you get for getting cheap ass work.

[lordofthewaters]

I've seen worse. Where was this done? Looks like Meineke.........