P013E

O2 Sensor Delayed Response - Rich to Lean Bank 1 Sensor 2

Q: Is it safe to drive with P013E?

Yes. It's a downstream oxygen-sensor response fault that mainly affects emissions monitoring, not drivability. Still fix it to pass emissions and clear the light.

Q: Can I just clear P013E?

You can, but it returns after a few drive cycles if the sensor is slow to respond or an exhaust leak is skewing it.

Fuel & air metering Generic OBD-II Medium

What it means

P013E means the downstream oxygen sensor on bank 1 (sensor 2, after the catalytic converter) takes longer than allowed to swing from a rich to a lean reading. It usually points to an aging or contaminated sensor, sometimes an exhaust leak. The car drives normally, but the slow response affects emissions monitoring and can trip an emissions test.

Medium

Can I keep driving? Safe to keep driving — this is an emissions/monitoring fault on a downstream oxygen sensor, not a running or starting problem.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

<0.1%

of scans that found faults

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on
Often no noticeable change in how the car drives
Slight drop in fuel economy
May fail an emissions test

Common causes

Most likely first

Aging or contaminated downstream oxygen sensor (bank 1, sensor 2)Likely
Exhaust leak near the sensor skewing readingsCommon
Wiring or connector fault at the sensorCommon
Sensor contamination from oil, coolant, or siliconeLess often
Faulty ECM/PCM (rare — rule out the sensor first)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data to see when the code set.
Inspect the exhaust for leaks upstream of the sensor.
Check the sensor's wiring and connector for damage or corrosion.
Watch the bank 1 sensor 2 response on a scan tool — a lazy switching pattern points to a tired sensor.
Replace bank 1 sensor 2 if it responds slowly. Clear and re-test over a drive cycle.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P013E?+

Yes. It's a downstream oxygen-sensor response fault that mainly affects emissions monitoring, not drivability. Still fix it to pass emissions and clear the light.

Can I just clear P013E?+

You can, but it returns after a few drive cycles if the sensor is slow to respond or an exhaust leak is skewing it.

Read & clear P013E yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX