P0031 Mazda Code - HO2S Heater Control Circuit Low

We brought our Mazda 3 2012 to an authorized service outlet which performed an ECM scan on it. The scanner gave a Code P0031, and the servicemen performed a "fix," advising us not to worry as the future disablement of the heater control circuit (recorded thru the "Check Engine" signal on the instrument cluster)will not impair the NORMAL OPERATION of the vehicle. Since we live in a tropical country, I tend to believe them. However. my question is:
'WHAT IF THERE ARE OTHER CAUSES TO THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING?" As my son says, 'What if the check engine warning MASKS other problems?'
My other question is: Since we live in a tropical country, is it safe to just disable the heater circuit - perhaps by disconnecting the lead wire to the heater element?
Thank you in advance for replying to our questions! God bless..
You may email your reply to:
1) [email protected];
2) or, to my Facebook Account: "Ptr Nene"

Thank you and God bless!

Since you have the P0031 code, the light will be always ON, so the only way if there are other problems is by continuously checking with an OBDII scanner for codes. If more problems will arise with the engine, then new codes will come up when checking with the OBDDII scanner.

There is no benefit disconnecting any wires and there is no way to disable the system. If you disconnect the wires to the sensor, then you'll still get the code.

Thanks, but for your info the "Check Engine" light came on again a few hours after that supposed "fix" by the authorized service center. That scan also cost me P1500 (about USD60) that I felt should have been spent more effectively had the technician just REPLACED the heater element at one go!
Pardon me for saying it, but the way I see it, the EXPENSIVE scan procedure should have been a FREE SERVICE from any Mazda authorized service outlet, and the "fix" (or,whatever you call it) is the one customers like us should only pay. In any case, I will just have to bear the "Check Engine" light always on for a while, as I just got clobbered by another EXPENSIVE repair of a battery replacement and alternator overhaul on the family's Ford Explorer 2005.
Regards. - pn.

You should consider buying your own scanner, you can get those very cheap now, much less for what you paid at the dealer.

The Check Engine light has been "on" for the last 24 days, but has not caused us any problems yet on the Mazda! However, this is is COLD COMFORT for a Mazda owner like me, as the on-light can MASK OTHER PROBLEMS!!!
Your suggestion to purchase my own scanner is, at best, laughable (sorry!) as we live in a 3rd world country and Mazda dealers here are just like everybody else - greedy enough to take advantage of customers like us. IOW, I will have to IMPORT MY OWN SCANNER from, say, Japan or the US, just to follow your well-intentioned suggestion. To repeat: scanning should be MADE AVAILABLE FROM DEALERS FREE 0F CHARGE, as we poor customers cannot be forever be charged $30 just to have a diagnosis, and no repairs yet!! Thanks anyway....:(

P.S. BTW, i shared this particular comment on my FACEBOOK page so other Mazda owners will know about my predicament and perhaps offer less-expensive solutions.