Powertrain, generic (extended)

P2253 O2 Sensor Negative Current Control Circuit High (Bank 1 Sensor 1)

Check engine lightOn
EmissionsRelevant
Drive cycleRequired
Limp modeNo

P2253 reports that the negative current control side of the bank 1 upstream air-fuel sensor reads too high. On the Honda-built 3.5 V6 of the 2004-05 Saturn Vue (L66), GM's tables treat it as an open sensor-cell circuit: with the heater operating and the element signal above 4.6 V, a sensor-cell voltage over 6.0 V for 5 s sets it, and P2256 does the same on bank 2. A short to the heater or battery feed can drive the signal high in the same way. Mitsubishi lists P2253 as a two-trip code for the 2022 Outlander, and GM's 2018 Duramax table 18OBDG04 names it as a front sensor fault without giving limits. Ford logs high-side shorts on wide-band wires as P0132 instead. P2251 is the open ground line in Ford terms, P2252 the low fault.

Likely causes

Open sensor-cell wire or connector contact, letting the signal float high
Wire shorted to heater supply or battery voltage
Internal defect in the air-fuel sensor

Symptoms

  • Check engine light
  • Higher fuel consumption from open-loop fuelling on bank 1
  • Repeat failure of a new sensor if a wiring short remains

Repair estimate

DifficultyMediumDIY possible
Parts and labour€80–450
Time0.5–2 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

oxygen sensor bank1 sensor1oxygen sensor wiringecm

Related codes

P2251P2252P2256P2246P0132

References: gsi.ext.gm.com, gsi.ext.gm.com, static.nhtsa.gov, gsi.ext.gm.com.