Code Definition

P1190 — Heated Oxygen Sensor 1 bank 1 reference voltage out of range

System: Powertrain  |  Type: Manufacturer-Specific  |  Make: Volkswagen

About P1190

P1190 is a manufacturer-specific powertrain diagnostic trouble code recorded for Volkswagen vehicles. It belongs to the P-prefix family of codes, which covers engine, transmission, emissions, or fuel-system faults.

When P1190 is stored, the module has detected a plausibility fault — the measured value is in the electrical range but is not consistent with expected operating behaviour; a bank-specific fault, meaning it applies only to one cylinder bank of a multi-bank engine; and a sensor-related fault — the reported value from the named sensor is out of spec.

Scanning & clearing: A generic OBD-II scan tool will usually read and clear powertrain (P) codes. For live data, freeze-frame capture, and bi-directional tests you may need a more capable scan tool that supports the vehicle's ECM protocol.

P1190 is a manufacturer-specific code. The same code string on a different make may have a different meaning. Always confirm the code's definition against the vehicle's service information for the specific make and model under test.

Code Information

The bank 1 upstream wideband oxygen sensor is measured against a fixed reference, or virtual ground, voltage supplied by the Engine Control Module (ECM), commonly around 2.5V, with the Nernst cell voltage and the pump cell current both read relative to that datum. DTC P1190 is set when the ECM finds that reference voltage present but outside its permitted window, meaning it is not sitting where it should, or it is unstable, or it is being loaded down or lifted by something in the circuit. Unlike a hard open or short, the circuit is still connected, so the fault usually stems from added resista...

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