dumb question: will OBD II tell me if the O2 sensors are wearing out?

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Chuck D. Bones - 02 Sep 2006 18:53 GMT

I don't know how smart the OBD II is on my 98 Surburban. The car has
100K mi on it and the O2 sensors may well be original. Before I think
about changing them, will the OBD II give me any indication that they
need to be replaced? Car runs fine and passes smog, but as we all know,
O2 sensors degrade gradually. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

-- cb

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Shep - 02 Sep 2006 20:11 GMT

Only a graphing scanner can tell you more than obd11 is built to analyze,
some degradation is normal at that mileage but probably not enough to be
concerned with without the cel on.

>I don't know how smart the OBD II is on my 98 Surburban. The car has
> 100K mi on it and the O2 sensors may well be original. Before I think
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> -- cb

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greasemonkey19 - 03 Sep 2006 19:48 GMT

the number one cause for o2 sensor failure is them being clogged or
dirty whatever u want to call it it but if you are worried about them
just take em out and torch the tips off to burn off that carbon build
up. or if u dont want to take them out then run the car lean for about
2 minutes and it should get the carbon off. u can do this by unplugging
a large vacuum hose and just let it idle.

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aarcuda69062 - 03 Sep 2006 19:56 GMT

In article
<1157309321.767378.201650@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com>,

> the number one cause for o2 sensor failure is them being clogged or
> dirty whatever u want to call it it but if you are worried about them
> just take em out and torch the tips off to burn off that carbon build
> up. or if u dont want to take them out then run the car lean for about
> 2 minutes and it should get the carbon off. u can do this by unplugging
> a large vacuum hose and just let it idle.

You forgot to tell him how to deal with the resulting MAF sensor
code set by creating that large vacuum leak.

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Chuck D. Bones - 03 Sep 2006 22:59 GMT

In article <nonelson-C2D22A.13565603092006
@newsclstr02.news.prodigy.com>, nonelson@sbcglobal.net says...

> In article
> <1157309321.767378.201650@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com>,
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> You forgot to tell him how to deal with the resulting MAF sensor
> code set by creating that large vacuum leak.

Thanks, guys. What I think I heard you say is that the check engine
light will come on if the O2s are dirty. I have torched O2 sensors to
test them, but didn't know that a good torching would clean them.

I also have a Jag XJ-S, it has MAP instead of MAF, so the vacuum leak
cleaning process won't work on that car right? A vacuum leak will
probably make it run rich on idle.

-- cb

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