P0133 error code

[JeepMama]

Just bought my 15yo son a 2006 Wrangler with 111k miles. 6sp manual, I6. Seems to run great. We test drove it twice before buying, no issues. Drove home 30+ miles on highway and have driven it several times since, no issues. Last night my son drove around the neighborhood for about an hour to practice driving manual. Mostly stopping and starting, rarely getting past 3rd gear. He went on the highway once to shift through all 6 gears. The check engine light came on right as we got back home. The on-off key thing this morning showed P0133 which appears to be an O2 sensor issue. Any advice on where to start with addressing this? The obvious choice would be replacing the sensor, but we don't have the tools to do it ourselves, and my Jeep guru brother lives 4 hours away. I don't want to blindly trust a mechanic before knowing more about what might be going on. Could his shaky driving have triggered it? He didn't do anything awful, but he did stall several times and had some less than smooth shifting a few times. I drove it around this morning and it still seems to be running fine. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[JKP]

That indicates a slower than expected response of the O2, probably an old sensor.

But, you can reset the code and see if it comes back. Any auto parts store can reset the code for free, or you can disconnect the battery for a few mins.

If it needs to be replaced, I would replace the other upper O2 at the same time.

The only thing hard about replacing them is they may be rusted in.

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

You bought a 18 year old vehicle for a 15 year old driver with no experience driving a manual or 4 wheel experience. OK, you should probably start investing in some tools and extra insurance! These really aren't for beginners unless you have un-limited funds for up grades and standard repairs.

 

[CreepinDeth]

Sounds to me like the seller MAY have had a bad sensor and knew it, but just cleared the codes to sell it.
Your son's driving it around a bit helped all the sensors to finally load, and the code tripped (again)

You need to always bring an OBD scan tool or dongle & APP with you for vehicle purchases for this reason.
If all sensors aren't tripped, then they're hiding something and you should do a full drive cycle to trip all sensors.
Dealers do this crap also.

My advice is simple.......if you've had AutoZone or whatever parts store ID the code, now it's time to ID which one it is.
Once you ID the exact one, just buy a new one off www.rockauto.com and buy a few tools and replace it.
If it's rusted in, and you can't get it out.........well.....ya gotta pay someone.

You bought a 18 year old vehicle for a 15 year old driver with no experience driving a manual or 4 wheel experience. OK, you should probably start investing in some tools and extra insurance! These really aren't for beginners unless you have un-limited funds for up grades and standard repairs.

These aren't for beginners ??? Says who ???
That's a highly subjective viewpoint.

Decades ago learning to drive on a manual transmission was an expected task.
I bought the TJ I got last year for my 9 year old, and my teenager is going to learn to drive manual on it also.

My 1st DD was a 5 speed manual. I also bought a 5 speed 4x4 not long after.

 

[JeepMama]

You bought a 18 year old vehicle for a 15 year old driver with no experience driving a manual or 4 wheel experience. OK, you should probably start investing in some tools and extra insurance! These really aren't for beginners unless you have un-limited funds for up grades and standard repairs.

Thanks for the warm welcome and parenting advice. Technically it's my Jeep, and I have plenty of experience driving a manual. But it's not exactly a family friendly ride, so he will be the primary driver. He will get his license soon and has some experience driving other manual vehicles. Maybe you were born knowing how to drive manual. But he isn't an expert yet and was practicing in the neighborhood to get used to this one before he has to stop on a hill in rush hour traffic. Funds are not an issue for standard repairs, and we have family with decades of Jeep experience. Just looking for input.

 

[pbeach]

You bought a 18 year old vehicle for a 15 year old driver with no experience driving a manual or 4 wheel experience. OK, you should probably start investing in some tools and extra insurance! These really aren't for beginners unless you have un-limited funds for up grades and standard repairs.

Dude, it's precisely the right vehicle for him: he'll get a job (or maintain one) to buy tools and parts — he'll learn mechanic skills — you'll know where he is (any parent of a teenager knows THAT's a major bonus)... at home, in the driveway wrenching.

You bought a 18 year old vehicle for a 15 year old driver with no experience driving a manual or 4 wheel experience. OK, you should probably start investing in some tools and extra insurance! These really aren't for beginners unless you have un-limited funds for up grades and standard repairs.

 

[OldBuzzard]

If you (or a mechanic) replaces any O2 sensors, INSIST on NTK/NGK brand. Most other brands are known to NOT work in the TJ, even if the parts catalog lists them.

 

[macleanflood]

I'd get a Bluetooth ODB reader like this one off Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XGBKG8X?tag=wranglerorg-20

Download Torque Lite or pay for the Pro version.

You want to monitor the voltages on the O2 sensors. Generally they need to range under .9v.

Also possible the cats are plugged and no point replacing perfectly good O2s.

Jeep TJs are great vehicles to learn how to fix cars. Lots of room for activities, fairly simple mechanically...parts are generally inexpensive and these Jeeps are pretty tough and can handle mistakes.

-Mac

 

[ColoJeep]

Just bought my 15yo son a 2006 Wrangler with 111k miles. 6sp manual, I6. Seems to run great. We test drove it twice before buying, no issues. Drove home 30+ miles on highway and have driven it several times since, no issues. Last night my son drove around the neighborhood for about an hour to practice driving manual. Mostly stopping and starting, rarely getting past 3rd gear. He went on the highway once to shift through all 6 gears. The check engine light came on right as we got back home. The on-off key thing this morning showed P0133 which appears to be an O2 sensor issue. Any advice on where to start with addressing this? The obvious choice would be replacing the sensor, but we don't have the tools to do it ourselves, and my Jeep guru brother lives 4 hours away. I don't want to blindly trust a mechanic before knowing more about what might be going on. Could his shaky driving have triggered it? He didn't do anything awful, but he did stall several times and had some less than smooth shifting a few times. I drove it around this morning and it still seems to be running fine. Any advice is appreciated.

Welcome to the Forum ! Your brother will be a big help with these issues .

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

Dude, it's precisely the right vehicle for him: he'll get a job (or maintain one) to buy tools and parts — he'll learn mechanic skills — you'll know where he is (any parent of a teenager knows THAT's a major bonus)... at home, in the driveway wrenching.

Well, only time will tell, but if he's like almost all 15 year old kids, he's gonna try some idiot shit in that Jeep. Just sayin!
We were sitting around and the phone rings, it's my buddies son who had barrowed his Jeep to run to pick up his buddy to play video games. He says he doesn't know what happened but the drive shaft just fell off by itself. We go to get him and tow the Jeep and I see the rear yoke is twisted off and the rear diff is in a couple pieces, Huh? I follow the blood trail into a city park and they were trying to climb the wall of a concrete storm water canal got too much traction and blew up the rear end. He was a good kid too!

 

['05Train]

You bought a 18 year old vehicle for a 15 year old driver with no experience driving a manual or 4 wheel experience. OK, you should probably start investing in some tools and extra insurance! These really aren't for beginners unless you have un-limited funds for up grades and standard repairs.

She bought her son one of the easiest vehicles there is to learn how to drive a stick.

These are totally for beginners....or anyone for that matter.

 

[RocknLJ]

She bought her son one of the easiest vehicles there is to learn how to drive a stick.

These are totally for beginners....or anyone for that matter.

Agree
I taught my daughter how to drive a manual on my 99 TJ with 35”s underneath. She would occasionally be allowed to drive it to school. Also stressed the importance of not making sharp turns at speed as well as using caution when pavement was wet…. She now drives my “old” 2012 JKUR which I sold here for a 12 pack of Shiner Bock. She also learned how to maintain and trouble shoot Jeep issues which is a great life skill.

 

[JeepMama]

Thanks for the helpful input! My brother said the same about replacing with NTK. We're going to reset the light and see if it comes back on in a few days, then go from there.
As for teenagers doing dumb stuff, that's not unique to Jeeps. Shit happens regardless of the car or how old it is or what transmission it has.