Got a P0130 CEL (repeatedly) and getting 0V out of the upstream driver's side (B1S1) according to OBD Fusion. It seemed coincidental as I had installed a coil pack relocate kit a couple weeks ago and sure enough, I took a peek down in there tonight and the tail from the sensor to the connector had slipped down and was resting on the downpipe. The outer shielding was damaged a little bit but I trimmed it open and there was no damage whatsoever to the plastic insulation on the wires themselves, much to my amazement. Not sure of the mileage on the current set of sensors, they likely came in the truck as I have no record of buying any. I've put 55k on it so let's assume they have 60k min. Does it sound wildly coincidental that the wire has been on the pipe for a couple hundred miles and now the sensor has failed? Again, there was zero melting or even discoloration on the individual gray, black and white wires, it was just the outer sheath that showed evidence of contacting the downpipe. I stopped short of switching sides to see if the problem moved, given the known history of the current sensors if the Y-pipe is coming down I may as well replace them. I did unplug and replug the sensor but to no avail.

 

Pull plug on o2 sensors and check pins. Mine didn’t look good
inspect the plugs
Change your purge valve
if it sticks open it dumps air into intake screwing everything up

 

Excellent advice. Thank you.

 

I would swap left to right, definitive proof it is sensor and not something else

 

I know, that rules out weirdness but it's such a PITA to get those things out that the effort to drop the Y pipe is the smarter approach so at that point, for $50 sensors why no just replace them and move on? Any tips on pulling the sensors in situ? They're not 10 years old but 4-5 for sure. My 22mm socket puts the swivel at an odd angle from above and I don't see it coming out without a potentially damage-inducing fight. My 2mm open end doesn't have the right angle either, and I thought I had a crows foot somewhere but can't put my finger on it. I'm freaked out about battling these things in a low percentage fight that results in me dropping the Y pipe anyway So, for $50 sensors.....

One thing I thought was worth a try was to take some old sensors I have and make a pair of long tails to switch them electrically without disturbing the actual installation of them. Plug the right into the left harness and vice-versa. I do believe in the value of identifying the problem before wasting effort and given what we know about these trucks, the O2 sensors do throw curveballs from time to time. There's also that thing in the back of mind that well, I did just disturb the wiring and super heat it. The coincidence is hard to come to terms with.

 

Passenger side is relatively easy to reach from above, less so with Sai but still not extremely difficult. I have had luck getting the driver side out from the bottom with my oxygen sensor socket and the half inch extension from Below. You can only Break It Loose in that manner but then it is usually pretty easy to take out. Needless to say if you didn't do it last time you want to put copper neverseize on the threads when you go back with the new ones