P0160 is a standard OBDII trouble code. It has the same meaning for any vehicle with OBDII, including the Ford Windstar.
When a vehicle has P0160, the PCM/ECM is not detecting any activity from the sensor. It doesn’t mean that the O2 sensor isn’t getting power, but that the voltage isn’t changing, which is the “no activity”.
P0160: O2 Sensor → No Activity Detected → Bank 2 Sensor 2
- Bank 2 indicates that the sensor is on the side of the engine with cylinder 2 in the firing order.
- Sensor 2 monitors emissions after the catalytic converter. It’s usually the Oxygen Sensor located directly after the converter.
P0160 Definition
The Windstar’s computer uses the oxygen sensor to measure the amount of O2 gases in the exhaust. It uses this data to tune the engine in real time. This allows for the best possible timing and air fuel mixture.
When there is no signal from this oxygen sensor, the engine will not be able to run at optimal efficiency, and you’ll get that annoying check engine light.
The PCM supplies a voltage or roughly .45v to the O2 sensor. As the engine warms up, this voltage is supposed to change. If it doesn’t (or does so too slowly) the P0160 code will be thrown.
This video is extremely helpful in going about how to test P0160: It’s for P0140, which is the same exact sensor, just on the bank 1.
P0160 Symptoms Ford Windstar
Most of the time, the only symptom of P0160 is going to be the service engine soon light. This is due to the fact that sensor 2 monitors exhaust emissions. The sensor before the catalytic converter is much more important in terms of engine tuning (sensor 1).
Ford Windstar P0160 Causes
There are a lot of different things that can cause P0160 to be thrown in the Windstar. Here is a list of common potential causes for P0160 in general:
- Wiring– You’ll want to visually inspect the harness where it plugs into the O2 sensor. Make sure that the pins look good and that the harness is seating well and not cracked. Also check to make sure that the wiring is not frayed or shorted. How to check for a short (YouTube).
- Bad O2 Sensor– The oxygen sensor itself can go bad. This is often the cause of P0160. Replacing it without testing the wiring going to/from it first is a gamble that will often pay off, but it’s still a good idea to check your harness connections and inspect it first. If you do conclude that the O2 sensor has gone bad, they aren’t that expensive to replace.
- Exhaust Leak– An exhaust will can cause P0160. You should be able to listen and find it.
- Bad Heated O2 Circuit
The wiring harness often goes bad with the 02 sensor by the catalytic converter. The extreme heat from the exhaust can really damage a wiring harness, espescially the connection.
Conclusion
There are a lot of issues that can cause P0160 in the Ford Windstar. Most of the time, it’ll be the O2 sensor or the wiring to it. If you feel there is anything that you could do to improve or add to this article, please leave a comment below. Good luck!