Harapa

2008 RX350
45,000 miles
CEL with VSC off and Skid Control lights ON
Codes retrieved: P0031 and P2238
Both codes points to malfunctioning Air/fuel sensor (B1S1).
I understand A/F sensor that is on exhaust manifold before the catalytic convertor is in question. My understanding is, it is located between the engine block and fire wall on the passenger side and need to be accessed from underneath the car.
I am sufficiently Techi but have no means to raise the car (unless I acquire raising ramps which I can).

Questions:
--Are their additional tests that I can do before embarking on replacing it
--How difficult is to replace the sensor (consider me technically savoy)?
--What is the part number for this sensor?
--Dealer is asking ~ $550 to fix. Other choice I have is a Toyota Dealer which is asking ~$400. Should I get it done at the dealer(Lexus or Toyota) or look for some independent shop? (after reading posts on this subject I think I need to install genuine Toyota/Lexus Part and not off brand sold by parts store like NAPA, Pepboys, etc. So I am not sure if I can enforce this choice on an independent ) .

--For how many miles/days can I delay fixing this (like to wait until the weather gets warm-maybe till May). I don't drive much - less than few miles on weekdays and less than 50 miles on the weekends)

Appreciate any input that can help me to deal with this. Please post a picture or two indicating the location of the sensor.
Thanks in advance.

RX330inFL

Welcome to Club Lexus, Harapa.

Many independents have access to Toyota brand parts as well through a local distributor. The one I use here in FL can get the same parts the Lexus dealership gets. You just need to ask what they would be using.

As for your part, that is an emissions part. Someone needs to come in on this thread who may know for sure, however, I think that is covered under the 8 years/80,000 miles federal emissions warranty.

You may be able to get the dealership to fix this for free.

You do not need to worry about doing any real damage to your RX while driving around until this gets fixed.

RX330inFL

Call your Lexus dealership and tell the person you spoke to that O2 sensor is covered under the federal emissions warranty. See what they have to say. Perhaps you can show this to the dealer, if needed:

http://www.epa.gov/obd/pubs/420f09048.pdf

Harapa

Thanks for pointing this out. But 8yr/80,000 warranty only applies to 3 major parts, unless I am reading it wrong.

Copied from page 4 of the above document.

"There are three specified major emission control components, covered for the first 8 years or
80,000 miles of vehicle use (whichever first occurs) on 1995 and newer vehicles:
• Catalytic converters
• The electronic emissions control unit or computer (ECU)
• The onboard emissions diagnostic device or computer (OBD)"

RX330inFL

I was reading from page 3 and missed the part above. Sorry. Why I asked others to be sure to chime in. There are both federal and local state emissions warranty programs. There is also the vehicle's Basic Warranty along with the Powertrain Warranty. Was not sure where the emissions parts fell.

http://www.lexus.com/warranty