P0057: Oxygen sensor heater circuit low (bank 2, sensor 2)

What P0057 means

An oxygen sensor (lambda sensor) only reads accurately when very hot, so it has a built-in heater that warms it up as soon as the engine starts. The ECU sees a lower voltage than normal in that circuit, nearly always from an electrical fault: a broken heater element, a wire, the connector or the fuse. This sensor sits after the catalytic converter on bank 2 (bank 2 is the side of the engine opposite cylinder 1) and is used to check that the catalytic converter is working.

Most common causes

• Blown heater fuse
• Loose or corroded sensor connector
• Open heater element in the sensor
• Wire cut or shorted to earth by rubbing on the exhaust
• Fault in the ECU’s control circuit (uncommon)

Symptoms

• Engine warning light on
• Usually no change in how the car drives
• Possible inspection failure because of the warning light

Can you drive with P0057?

Yes, no rush You can drive normally, as this sensor plays no part in the fuel mixture. Just get it fixed before the next inspection.

How to check it

Start by checking the oxygen sensor heater fuse in the fuse box. With the engine cold and the sensor unplugged, a multimeter across the two heater terminals should show a low resistance; if it reads nothing, the sensor has failed.

How to read and clear P0057 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0057 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

• P0050 Oxygen sensor heater circuit fault (bank 2, sensor 1)
• P0051 Oxygen sensor heater circuit low (bank 2, sensor 1)
• P0052 Oxygen sensor heater circuit high (bank 2, sensor 1)
• P0056 Oxygen sensor heater circuit fault (bank 2, sensor 2)
• P0058 Oxygen sensor heater circuit high (bank 2, sensor 2)
• P0069 Manifold pressure and barometric pressure do not match
• P0070 Ambient air temperature sensor circuit fault
• P0071 Ambient air temperature sensor range or performance problem
• P0010 Camshaft A actuator control: open circuit (bank 1)
• P0011 Camshaft A timing over-advanced (bank 1)
• P0012 Camshaft A timing over-retarded (bank 1)
• P0013 Camshaft B actuator control: open circuit (bank 1)

P0057 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Abarth, Cupra, Jeep, Mini, Nissan, Seat. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.