Nissan Repair: p0141 o2 sensor heater, volt ohm meter, continuity test

Question
2000 Villager with p0141 OBDII code.  I've  written before.  Since then I have checked the fuses,changed the O2 sensor (downstream), the plugs, the wires, the distributor (coils are integrated, this was your shot at it as you had a maxima with a similar issue) all to no avail.

he distributor was my great hope but the code came right back so I took the van to a shop this week where he said it was the sensor I used. So I paid him my money and put a new sensor in (a plug and play with no splicing) cleared the codes and went for a drive.  Sure enough, the light popped up again.  Checked the code and sure enough p0141.  

Is there an obvious place to check in the wiring of this vehicle for an open circuit?  Seems I HAVE to have a wire cracked and shorted somewhere unless you've got any more ideas.

Thanks,
John  

Answer
John,

Man, electrical problems are the worst thing to track down.  When I was at the Skunk Works and we had problems with aircraft we called in a Sparky.  This was the guy that would spend days looking for a short in a wire.  And, there are miles of wire in an aircraft.  In your case, I would check the wire from the sensor going back into the body.  Also, there is a ground strap on the exhaust that has to be connected or the error can come up.  If memory serves me right the wire comes through the floor and it is close to the center console.  So, if that is the case you will have to take the console out and continue tracking the wire.  you can get a volt ohm meter and do a continuity test until you find the open.  Now, I have seen shops that basically track the wire back to the connector on the computer and that is where they cut the wire and they run a complete now wire all the way back to the sensor.  It is ugly, but no one will see the wire and if you are really detail oriented you can take the old wire out.  And if you are anal like me you even purchase the same color wire so no one will ever know.  And, if you want excellence be sure to solder the connections and use heat shrink on the connection to keep it clean and dry.