Failed heater element inside the bank 2 sensor 3 oxygen sensor; Open or shorted wiring between the sensor heater and the control module, often from chafing or corrosion; Blown fuse that supplies power to the oxygen sensor heater circuit; Corroded or loose connector pins at the sensor or at the control module; Faulty relay that feeds the heater circuit on vehicles that use one; Internal driver failure inside the powertrain control module, though this is the least common cause

DTC codes / P00xx · Fuel and air metering and auxiliary emission controls / P0062

P0062HO2S Heater Control Circuit (Bank 2 Sensor 3)

Q: What does code P0062 mean?

HO2S Heater Control Circuit (Bank 2 Sensor 3). P0062 indicates that the powertrain control module has detected a fault in the heater control circuit for the downstream oxygen sensor on bank 2, which is the side of the engine that does not contain cylinder number one. The heater element inside the sensor is not drawing the current the computer expects when it commands the heater on, so the sensor may not reach operating temperature quickly enough to provide accurate exhaust readings.

P0062 indicates that the powertrain control module has detected a fault in the heater control circuit for the downstream oxygen sensor on bank 2, which is the side of the engine that does not contain cylinder number one. The heater element inside the sensor is not drawing the current the computer expects when it commands the heater on, so the sensor may not reach operating temperature quickly enough to provide accurate exhaust readings.

SystemPowertrain

Code typeGeneric (all makes)

SeverityLow

Fix difficultyIntermediate

AreaFuel and air metering and auxiliary emission controls

Symptoms you may notice

Illumination of the check engine light, often with no other noticeable symptoms
Slightly higher fuel consumption because the sensor stays in open-loop longer than normal
A pending or stored code for the same circuit that returns after clearing
In rare cases, a rough idle or hesitation when the engine is cold if the sensor feedback is delayed
No drivability change at all in many vehicles, especially those that use the downstream sensor mainly for catalyst monitoring

Common causes, most likely first

Failed heater element inside the bank 2 sensor 3 oxygen sensor
Open or shorted wiring between the sensor heater and the control module, often from chafing or corrosion
Blown fuse that supplies power to the oxygen sensor heater circuit
Corroded or loose connector pins at the sensor or at the control module
Faulty relay that feeds the heater circuit on vehicles that use one
Internal driver failure inside the powertrain control module, though this is the least common cause

How to diagnose and fix it

Check the fuse that protects the oxygen sensor heater circuit and replace it if blown, then verify the new fuse does not blow again
Inspect the sensor connector and the harness for corrosion, chafing, or loose pins, and repair any damaged wiring
Measure the resistance of the heater element at the sensor connector with a multimeter and compare it to the manufacturer's specification
Command the heater on with a scan tool and measure voltage and current at the sensor connector to confirm the circuit is live
Check for continuity and voltage drop on the ground side of the heater circuit back to the control module
Replace the bank 2 sensor 3 oxygen sensor if the heater element is open or out of specification
Clear the codes and perform a road test to confirm the heater circuit passes its self-test and the code does not return

What the downstream heater code really means

A P0062 does not mean the oxygen sensor is reading exhaust gas incorrectly; it only means the heater circuit is not performing as expected, so replacing the sensor without testing the wiring often wastes money.
Many vehicles set this code simply because the heater fuse is shared with other circuits, so a blown fuse can be caused by a problem elsewhere and not by the sensor itself.
The downstream sensor on bank 2 is often the hardest one to reach, and technicians sometimes find the connector was left unplugged or damaged during a previous repair rather than a failed sensor.
On some engines, the heater circuit is controlled by a relay that can fail intermittently, so the code may set only on cold starts and clear after the engine warms up.
A scan tool that can read live heater current and voltage is far more useful than a simple code reader, because it shows whether the control module is actually commanding the heater on.

Can I keep driving with P0062?

You can usually continue driving with this code because the engine will still run and the main effect is slightly higher emissions and fuel consumption until the sensor warms up. Avoid long periods of idling from a cold start and have the circuit checked soon so the sensor can enter closed-loop operation normally.

Tools that help

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Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.