2000 Jeep Cherokee Laredo not makin' it

Hey all,

Woman here with no knowledge of cars.... but here goes:

Catalytic converter was stolen. Had an after market replacement put on. Needed some extra
pipe as they sawed the damn thing off.....

Passed my emission tests but now my CHECK ENGINE light is on.

Went to AutoZone and got codes
P0170: Definition: Fuel Trim bank one
and
P0138: Definition: HO2S 12 circuit condition (Heated oxygen sensor bank 1 sensor 2)

Yah.... *taps toe.... looks up to sky..... WTH??

Do I take it in for repairs? Can I drive it safely for a while? Is this the fall out for getting an aftermarket Cat?

Ya know, I love being a woman, but it's time like these.... *shakes fist at the sky.....

Thanks for any and all help!

bullie


(This post was edited by bulldoglover62 on Sep 1, 2008, 11:56 AM)
Well heck.... it's worse today!! I went to the grocery store and barely made it home.
The car won't seem to shift up..... it DOES, but only after sitting in first and barely moving....
And when it does, the acceleration is really poor.

It's a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Laredo with over 100,000 miles and an aftermarket
catalytic converter and an engine cooling systerm that runs independently from the car.
 

Did you replace the O2Senor or did they steal that as well? It seems your computer is trying to figure out the right fuel/air mix and just getting it all wrong....
Hey now! That might be it! No, they didn't replace the CO sensor when they put the aftermarket Cat in.....
 

Hello Bulldoglover62. I just got back into town. I see Carjunky has replied to you. I looked up the codes under a generic site and came up with these possibilities as to your problems.
The P0138 is the O2 sensor heater circuit shorted to the power wire going to the sensor somewhare. It could also be the sensor shorted inside.
P0170 Fuel trim (FT), bank 1 – malfunction Intake leak, AIR system, fuel pressure/pump, injector(s), EVAP canister purge valve, HO2S
The P0170 indicates the system is running lean. It could be due to the sensor be shorted to power somewhere also. They are both on the same side of the engine. The P0138 is for the rear O2 sensor on the drivers side. Good luck.
 

Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds Thanks to you both! I'm taking it back to the dewd that put the cat. converter on and
hopefully he'll understand what the dealio is.

The information here arms this female with something to keep 'em guessing. *wink