My 03 d is giving me a po038 code and i am trying to find out if i should just replace the downstream sensor or if its more likely that i have a wiring issue or ecm issue?

 

its most likely that the sensor or plugs are bad, there is no ecm in dodge vehicles, they are PCM, the differences are subtle, but important, it is possible that you simply got water in the connector

i would clear the code and see if it comes back

 

Does your 4.7 have a power steering switch coming off the pressure line?

 

@shrpshtr325 I did clear the code and it came back on within a minute or so of start up.
@mastertech I'm not sure I'll have to check tomorrow. What is the relivence of a power steering switch to an o2 sensor code?

 

The issue is it's not uncommon for the power steering switch to leak and the fluid leads down to the sensor wiring an causes a short. It happened to me and it was a PITA to trace down and ended up being simple as replacing the switch and cleaning up the wires.

 

the ps switch and the o2 sensors share a poriton of the wire harness and power steering fluid can leak into the harness and cause a short

 

i see. thanks for the advise. i will check for ps fluid leaking onto the wiring harness and if thats all clear i'll replace the sensor. here's to hoping

 

If it's got a leak it will look a little something like this. This is what mine looked like before I fixed everything. Granted mine's a 5.9 and yours is a 4.7, but should look like this if you have a leak.

 

Is there a happy ending to this story?

 

On a 3.5 motor, is the P0038 code for the front or the rear sensor?