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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / November 2005

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Dodge straus 2.4 strange O2S reading (I think)

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dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 07:37 GMT
I am having some problems with passing emission test and the only odd
thing I see while viewing the OBDII data on a laptop is that the
downstream O2 sensor seems to be seeing a rich condition (slow
switching between .57 to about .86) while the upstream O2 sensor is
giving me a nice fast switching .02 to about .7 sine wave.

I have replaced the O2 sensor and am still observing the same behavior.
Is this normal?

In my quest to correct my horribly failed emissions test, I have tested
and replaced the following:

Replaced:
IAC (motor seized about mid way)
DS O2S (probably did not need to)
Coolant temperature sensor (replaced because of erratic readings a
couple months back)
PCV valve
a couple old cracked vacuum lines

Tested:
TPS
EGR
Evap system
vacuum system
fuel pressure/volume
compression

I also performed the normal tune up steps prior to the inspection.  I
have not wanted to go back and have it tested again since I made the
repairs because the exhaust still smells rich to me.

The car does not and has never had any driveability problems and gets
around 23-25MPG.

Car has about 215K freeway miles on it but had a dealer installed
engine at 95K miles, and is well maintained.

Here are the results of the emissions test (California)

Test    RPM   %CO2  O2   HC   CO    NO
15 MPH    1858  14    0   139  1.14  659
25 MPH    1915  13.6  0   165  1.47  822

Any help is appreciated

Thanks,

David
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 07:41 GMT
BTW, car is a 97
Shep - 26 Oct 2005 15:01 GMT
The after cat sensor should switch about 1/2 the frequency of the pre cat
sensor, and if the cat is working properly and there are no mixture problem
the post cat sensor usually maintains about 450-650 and as you see the swing
and rate of change is slower and less drastic than pre cat sensors. I don't
see how you could fail without a check engine lite or a pending code at
least, assuming the engine was at operating temp. Post back the limits for
each gas. The post cat sensor looks richer because the cat is using exhaust
stream o2 to function properly, by the way.
>I am having some problems with passing emission test and the only odd
> thing I see while viewing the OBDII data on a laptop is that the
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>
> David
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 15:20 GMT
Hey Shep, thanks for the quick reply!

There was no pending or stored code; light illuminates when it should
(i.e. disconnect sensors and it will throw a code)

Here are the max values

HC      CO     NO

56       .51     443  15MPH  
40       .49     730  25MPH
Shep - 26 Oct 2005 16:50 GMT
Yeah the exahust is rich, hc's are usually raw fuel, gas contaminated oil,
overloaded vapor cannister, engine misfire, all can cause this and the co
also. Excessivey high fuel pressure here also, cat efficiency can be tested
using an infrared thermo, temp at outlet of cat should be about 100 degrees
or more than the inlet, but I don't see how this thing has no codes here.
What is the long term fuel trim, should be -10 or more by the 4 gas
readings? Your nox failed also, this is usually an egr problem.
> Hey Shep, thanks for the quick reply!
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> 56       .51     443  15MPH
> 40       .49     730  25MPH
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 17:36 GMT
Unfortunately I can only log 6 values at once.  These readings were
taken over about 50 seconds on a flat road at 25MPH (cruise control set
for stability) at approximately 850ft elevation with outside
temperature in the 60's.

Sample Rate Setting=0.100
Start Time:8:26:23 AM
Date of Log:10/25/2005
Coolant temp approx 190F

MAP     USO2S   DSO2S   TPS%     RPM     LT FT

19.5    0.255    0.745    20    2058.25    -1.6
19.5    0.175    0.745    20    2006.75    -2.3
18.6    0.155    0.785    19    2007.25    -3.1
18.6    0.12    0.685    19    2029.25    -3.9
17.1    0.335    0.765    18    2018    -3.9
16.2    0.665    0.705    18    2031.5    -3.1
17.4    0.1    0.725    17    2017.75    -4.7
13.3    0.53    0.785    16    1987    -6.3
12.7    0.725    0.705    16    1986.5    -7
11.5    0.1    0.235    14    1934    -7
12.1    0.175    0.63    14    1926    -7
12.1    0.55    0.685    14    1916.75    -6.3
11.5    0.665    0.785    14    1915.25    -6.3
12.1    0.685    0.765    14    1905.5    -6.3
11.5    0.175    0.745    14    1900.25    -6.3
12.1    0.12    0.765    14    1904.5    -6.3
11.5    0.705    0.765    14    1884.5    -6.3
11.2    0.705    0.745    14    1880.5    -5.5
11.5    0.685    0.765    14    1880.75    -5.5
11.2    0.645    0.745    14    1870.5    -5.5
11.5    0.1    0.685    14    1880.5    -5.5
12.1    0.12    0.745    14    1875    -5.5
12.1    0.215    0.745    14    1878    -5.5
11.5    0.1    0.725    14    1878.75    -5.5
11.5    0.295    0.745    14    1877.25    -5.5
11.2    0.57    0.725    14    1871    -5.5
11.8    0.59    0.725    14    1877.75    -5.5
11.5    0.12    0.765    14    1887.25    -5.5
11.8    0.49    0.765    14    1880.5    -5.5
11.5    0.665    0.725    14    1883.5    -5.5
11.5    0.55    0.705    14    1876    -4.7
12.1    0.135    0.745    14    1888    -4.7
11.2    0.175    0.765    13    1845.25    -4.7
10    0.12    0.765    14    1842    -5.5
11.2    0.1    0.665    14    1831.5    -5.5
10.3    0.12    0.725    14    1876.5    -4.7
11.5    0.12    0.725    18    1998.75    -5.5
15.6    0.725    0.785    16    1958.5    0
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 17:38 GMT
Unfortunately, I did not make any logs before I made repairs.
Shep - 26 Oct 2005 19:19 GMT
It looks like this car should pass, fuel trims are are little high, trying
to pull some fuel out, check the cat as I said, make sure it is good and
warmed up, change the oil if it's got some time on it. Looking at the map
and fuel trims you will notice as the map goes down the fuel trims go up (
more fuel being removed), this shouldn't happen at a steady throttle/engine
load. Map shouldn't drop from 19 to 12 on a flat road steady throttle. What
units are these map readings, just a scale on the scope?
> Unfortunately, I did not make any logs before I made repairs.
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 19:41 GMT
I think the first high map readings were due to the fact I was making
my way to 25MPH so the first 7 readings should probably be ignored as
well as the last reading.  The units are in inches Hg.
Shep - 26 Oct 2005 19:46 GMT
Ok, that the explains what looked like an anomoly, other than what I have
mentioned, I am out of ideas, good luck. BTW did you replace the pre cat
sensor might give a try but, your hc's and co's don't indicate that to be a
problem.
>I think the first high map readings were due to the fact I was making
> my way to 25MPH so the first 7 readings should probably be ignored as
> well as the last reading.  The units are in inches Hg.
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 20:00 GMT
Did not replace the upstream because the readings look so good on it
with the scope and the OBDII laptop.  I think I will go get a pre test
and at least compare the numbers and see where I am at.
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 21:11 GMT
Well, GOOD NEWS!  I took it for a pre test and it PASSED!  The HC's are
still a little high so I want to bring them down just a hair as they
were right at the limit.  The tech said it may be because it idled a
little too long while they sorted out a proble with the computer.

Here are the new numbers:

Test        RPM        %CO2       %O2      HC    %CO    NO
15MPH   1850          15.0           0.1       55      0.14    430
25MPH   1890          15.0           0.1       40      0.14    417

Thank you for the input Shep... I guess the repairs I made took care of
most of the problem, now I just need to see about lowering the HC's
just a hair (and maybe the NO)
Shep - 26 Oct 2005 21:22 GMT
Great, FYI, I am an emmisions inspector in NYS, ( day off today 6"of sno
here)we do obd11 tests and tailpipe tests for pre 95's, you did a good job
with this,  just do some more research on the relationship between the
readings of the pre and post cat sensors, there is a wealth of diagnostic
parameters in understanding this thoroughly.
> Well, GOOD NEWS!  I took it for a pre test and it PASSED!  The HC's are
> still a little high so I want to bring them down just a hair as they
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> most of the problem, now I just need to see about lowering the HC's
> just a hair (and maybe the NO)
dotsdave - 26 Oct 2005 21:30 GMT
I am actually a product manager for a consumer electronics company but
by background is electrical engineering...  I like working on my own
cars as I have found I usually save a lot of money this way.  I used to
have a 78 Datsun 510 that I limped to 860,000 miles without ever taking
it to a shop (before I got broadsided and they had to cut me out of it)
I loved that car, I could fix just about anything on it.

Thanks again for your help!
dotsdave - 29 Oct 2005 01:24 GMT
Well, an update...

Went and took the actual test and it failed again.  Not very badly (4
or 5 PPM on HC).  The NOX was much lower than before.

Seeing as I have done all the repairs that got it close (and out of the
3 digits on HC), I decided to bite the bullet and get the cat tested;
as was suspected, the cat was shot. I was there when the tech removed
it from the vehicle, and pieces fell out when he handed it to me.  Once
he got the new one put on, he was nice enough to give me a free
pre-test (I make friends easily (-: ) The new readings for HC are thru
the floor and in the low single digits and all the rest of the readings
were very good except for the NOX; it was a bit high. I retested the
EGR and transducer, and they are operating correctly (still scratching
my head, maybe carbon in the combustion chamber?)

On a side note; last night I decided that I wanted to take the car for
a nice long hard freeway drive before I got the cat put on so I could
get myself some baseline numbers.  I figured a San Bernardino to Cajon
Summit (interstate 15) to Chiriaco Summit (interstate 10)was in order.
I had no doubts the car would be able to do the Cajon Summit trip with
little effort; I was a tad worried about the Chiriaco climb as that
takes you from 70 ft below sea level to 2500 ft on a pretty good grade
(it's known for killing cars)  .  I was amazed that my car was able to
sustain the climb at 70MPH.  The last time I tried climbing it a few
years back, I had trouble keeping it above 55. I put on 312 miles last
night in 4 hours just driving the freeways. After checking my mileage,
I averaged 30MPG!!!  My car has not gotten that since it was new.

I forgot how much I like to drive when I am not sitting on the freeway
stuck in traffic.
dotsdave - 04 Nov 2005 01:49 GMT
Final update... IT PASSED THE TEST at the test only station!  The
rnumbers were lower than I have ever seen on the car (or any car I have
owned for that matter) The NOX was 5 at 15MPH and 3 at 25MPH.  The HC's
were 7 at 25MPH and 9 at 15MPH.

Thanks again for all the input!
 
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