O2 sensor

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Dec 17, 2003 | 05:11 PM

sausagemahoney

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O2 sensor

Last month I got a CEL. I checked it out and It turned out to be my O2 sensor. I got rid of the CEL, but not the sensor. I am about to replace it before a long road trip, but do I really need to? How do I know if it really needs to be replaced?

Jan 2, 2004 | 08:03 AM

SubySal

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Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 341

From: High in the Rockies!... but not too high

Car Info: 2004 2.5RS pacifica blue with black Tarmacs

I would. The only time an O2 sensor doesn't influence the air/fuel mixture is a WOT so if it is not working correctly it can excessively lean out or richen the mixture causing overheating or a blown engine. To prevent this car companies put a "safe mode" or "limp mode" in the ECU which means that when the CEL comes on it will run at preset fuel maps till the problem is fixed and the code cleared. This mode means the car will not run at optimal levels which usually means spuratic idle, loss of power, and decreased gas mileage. The amount of mileage usually determines if it needs to be replaced. OE units tend to last around 60,000 miles on average because heat and electronics don't work very well together. You could call a dealer or email SOA for more specific info.

-Sal

Last edited by SubySal; Jan 2, 2004 at 08:06 AM.

Jan 2, 2004 | 02:23 PM

Kevin M

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Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 18,369

From: Reno, NV

Car Info: 1993/2000/2001 GF4 mostly red

Re: O2 sensor

Quote:

Originally posted by sausagemahoney
Last month I got a CEL. I checked it out and It turned out to be my O2 sensor. I got rid of the CEL, but not the sensor. I am about to replace it before a long road trip, but do I really need to? How do I know if it really needs to be replaced?

Do you have mods? What's your mileage? What car is this for?

Jan 2, 2004 | 08:41 PM

Frank

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me too

I just had a similar problem. Story is I added a little bottle of that STP injector cleaner two tanks of gas ago. I am not usually one for gimmicky things, but thought it could couldn't really hurt now that I'm at 70k miles. I drove about 25 miles and the CEL came on. I had the local autozone plug in and tell me what the code meant. They said it was reading as though my cat was bad; meaning the o2 sensor after the cat was reading too little change in the exhaust. I was relieved a bit, and since I'm gonna get a new header/exhaust soon, I thought if i did have a bad cat I'd be getting a new one anyway. I can attest to the fact that you get HORRIBLE gas mileage when the CEL was on. I got somewhere under 20mpg. Anyways, then i ran a new tank of gas and the CEL went away. Now I'm in the same situation. I am thinking that at 70k miles I may need new 02 sensors and the injector cleaner added some wierd chemicals to the mix which may have messed with the aged sensors. My question is as to how many 02 sensors our cars have and whether I should replace all of them? ( 00 2.5rs with pdm intake, k&n filter, unorthodox underdrive pulley kit, ngk irridium plugs)