P0163O2 Sensor Circuit Low Voltage Bank 2 Sensor 3
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- Needs a drive cycle to confirm a fix
- How the car detects it
- Sensor 3 on bank 2 is a switching oxygen sensor behind a second converter or converter brick. It is rare – documented for Jaguar Land Rover's supercharged V6 and V8 (2013–2016), where it is the 'post-cat' sensor of the second bank, and for Ford systems that monitor part of the converter volume. P0163 means the signal stays close to 0 V – typically the signal wire is shorted to ground; on some modules an open circuit is also reported this way, and an exhaust leak ahead of the sensor can make it read lean. For the bank 2 sensor 2 counterpart GM uses below 50 mV within 50 s, Ford a pull-up resistance check (short below 10 Ω, open above 1 MΩ). Jaguar Land Rover assigns the code to that sensor and names software (fixed by reconfiguring the engine module) and water-induced thermal shock as causes; no thresholds are published for sensor 3, so the logic follows the sensor 2 checks. When it fails, the downstream evaluation of that converter is suspended; there is no limp mode.
- What you may notice
- Check engine light on (usually after two drive cycles)
- Catalyst readiness incomplete
- Usually no noticeable change in driving
- Likely causes
- LikelySignal wire shorted to ground (chafed or melted)
- PossibleSensor faulty
- PossibleExhaust leak ahead of the sensor (apparently lean)
- RareEngine module software (Jaguar Land Rover)
- Inspection (ITP)
- Matters for the ITP. While the check-engine light is on, the car fails the emissions check.
- Repair
- Easy · Often possible to do yourself.Typical cost: €60 – €300
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.