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2001 PT Cruiser DTC Codes P0132, P0134

Model: 2001 PT Cruiser Fault Code: P0132 Posted: 2011-10-06 18:31

I have a 2001 PT Cruiser that has been giving me all kinds of problems since day 1. Most recently it was throwing codes P0132 and P0134 so I checked the wires to the O2 sensor and the connection and measured the sensor for resistance and everything looked fine so I reset the computer and the light came back on within seconds so I replaced the sensor just to see if it would fix it. Then I cleared the codes again and started the vehicle and the light was off for about a half mile then came right back on. Then I drove the car for a couple of days and the EATX fuse blew. With fuse blown the car will not crank or attempt to start at all. Replace fuse and it would fire and run fine till you attempt to drive. As soon as the car hit second gear the fuse would blow again. Tore engine compartment apart tracing every wire from the bottom of the fuse panel and from the plug on the ECM but found no broken or frayed wires. Towed vehicle to shop and put on diagnostic tool and found wrong voltage at fuel injectors and out of the ECM. Replaced ECM and coolant temp sensor and the car drove great for almost 10 miles then began shaking slightly when lightly pressing throttle then the same codes came back on. I am ASE Certified and know a lot about vehicles but i am at the end of my rope here. I did a head job on this vehicle last year and the motor looks great internally. Here is a list of parts that I can remember off the top of my head starting with most recent to last year. New ECM, Coolant temp sensor, Battery, O2 sensors, Throttle Position Sensor, Ignition Coil, Plugs and Wires and Cam sensor. Also at the time when I did the head gasket I rebuilt the bottom end with new pistons and rings. The head has all new valves, guides and seals and the entire timing set and water pump are new. Sorry for such a long history but I am lost and don't know where to go from here?

Related fault codes
P0132P0134
Comments (18)
Anonymous 2011-10-07 05:13

Check that the wiring harness hasn't or isn't dropped down and fraying on the axleshaft and as well the wiring to the crank sensor can get saturated with oil and short together! Dare I ask what kind of 02 did u install?

Anonymous 2011-10-07 11:56

The O2 sensors are Bosch and direct fit units, not the universal type. The original O2 sensors looked fine and tested good with an ohm meter but I changed them anyhow in case the heater circuit was causing the issue. The cam and crank sensors are clean and have no corrosion at all and the wires are perfect to look at them. I did not check each wire for resistance because the diagram I have does not show exactly which pin each wire is at the computer. Do you happen to have a diagram that details each wire in that harness?

Anonymous 2011-10-07 13:59

Bosch 02's will not work! Wrong heater element resistance! use NTK brand!

Anonymous 2011-10-07 15:34

Ok, I just got done going through the wires under the car and I did find one wire that had the insulation worn away and the copper wires exposed. It was contacting the CV boot and I missed it before because the wires were covered by that nylon mesh stuff. It was not contacting any metal at all so I don't think it was able to short out unless it gets wet. I am going to cross my fingers and hope that it straightens out. The check engine light is out for now but since I disconnected the battery I expected that. Thanks for the tip it was very helpful. UPDATE: Just got back from test drive. Made it about 5 miles and the car shut down again. No warning at all. Checked fuses and the FP/ASD fuse in the under hood fuse panel was blown. All I had was a 25 amp on hand so used it and the car started right back up and drove home fine. No DTC codes at all but now I am afraid to attempt to drive the thing again. I am going to go through every wire under the hood again tomorrow but has anyone else ran into this problem? I am beginning to think this car is cursed or something. It has more miles behind a wrecker than any vehicle I know of. Might be able to get it into the Guinness Book Of World Records.

Anonymous 2011-10-08 04:52

So u need to find where that circuit splices into all the different feeds and if u want install inline fuse holders in each leg of the circuit! Then when u have a fuse pop u'll at least know on what leg! I've seen bad 02's pop that fuse!

Anonymous 2011-10-08 06:08

Thanks again. I am going to try that. Hopefully I can get this thing figured out soon. I am so sick of this car. I have never had so many wiring issues with a car in all my years. Do you really think that I should switch the Bosch O2 sensor out for the NTK? I hate to throw away another sensor that ohm's out perfect.

Anonymous 2011-10-08 14:36

Yeah I wouldn't recommend it if I hadn't seen it work!

Anonymous 2011-10-08 21:43

I have to order the NTK brand O2 sensor because nobody has it locally. I will let you know what happens when I get it and road test it again. Thanks again for all of your help.

Anonymous 2011-10-10 09:10

Does the fuse blow if the 02 is unplugged and the car driven?

Anonymous 2011-10-10 09:13

As well the connector fro the cam sensor and the ignition coil are identical and I've seen a few techs swap them accidentally after a head job but normally the car won't even start after! Normally your symptons are caused by wiring under and going across the bellhousing to the crank sensor shorting or bad 02's!

Anonymous 2011-10-10 18:28

Well I installed the NTK O2 sensor and took it for a short test drive. Made it home under it's own power this time. I went over every wire as good as good as I could without removing the protective wrappings while I had it in the garage. I am going to cross my fingers and hope that it is finally fixed. I just can't sell someone a car that I know is messed up. I think I am going to drive it around for a few days and try to put at least 100 miles on it. If it is good after 100 miles I will feel good putting it up for sale. Thanks again.

Anonymous 2011-10-15 06:23

Well the saga continues. Took the car for a test drive and another Code came on. I have to take a break from working on this pile of scrap. I wonder if I could part this thing out to get some of the money back? Maybe if I let it sit for a few days I will feel like working on it again. I can't believe this thing is this hard to figure out. So frustrating. Anyone want to buy a 01 PT Cruiser? It only has 24,000miles on it.

Anonymous 2011-10-15 10:38

same code?

Anonymous 2011-10-18 06:06

I didn't bother looking yet. I just parked it and walked away. I think I have calmed down enough to work on it again today without reaching for a sledge hammer. Lol. I will let you know what I find.

Anonymous 2011-10-21 04:41

Ok Jeff, Yes it is still the same code. It is the upstream oxygen sensor code saying that it is shorted to voltage. I unplugged the sensor and the thing runs great so it has to have a short in one of the wires somewhere or something. The wires are not very long for that sensor, they go from that plug to the computer which is only about 12 inches and I cant find a short in those wires. Can this be a problem in the transmission? The reason I ask is because if the O2 sensor is plugged in it keeps blowing the EATX fuse again. Unplug the sensor and it does not blow that fuse. That makes absolutely no sense to me but that is what is happening.

Anonymous 2011-10-21 19:09

Is the downstream 02 still a bosch? Im going to try and dig up some of the schematics tomorrow if I get a sec! what fuse number is it that blows?

Anonymous 2011-10-25 14:00

I unplugged the upstream O2 sensor and it started running great and stopped blowing the EATX fuse so I took it to another mechanic to let him figure it out. I will let you know if he manages to find something that I missed or anything. I give up. Like the song says " You got to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them"

Anonymous 2011-10-28 05:06

John if u can tell me the actual fuse number on the diagram that it's blowing I can better track it down! Ru using alldata or Mitchell information systems?