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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / November 2007What happens if the oxygen sensor is disconnected
I just spent an hour trying to determine what the thing is in my exhaust pipe with the wire broken off of it. Turns out to be an oxygen sensor. Since the wire is broken off, it obviously dont work. Yet the truck (Ford F150) runs fine. What happens if this oxygen sensor stays disconnected for any length of time? >I just spent an hour trying to determine what the thing is in my >exhaust pipe with the wire broken off of it. Turns out to be an >oxygen sensor. Since the wire is broken off, it obviously dont work. >Yet the truck (Ford F150) runs fine. What happens if this oxygen >sensor stays disconnected for any length of time? The engine management controler (computer) used the o2 sensor to adjust fuel use based on o2 in the exhaust. With the thing disconnected the controler goes into a 'mean' or average position (also called fail safe) and does not adjust fuel rates. Means that you could be using more fuel than required or less (maybe). It should also turn the check engine lite on. Pete >>I just spent an hour trying to determine what the thing is in my >>exhaust pipe with the wire broken off of it. Turns out to be an [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Pete Thanks for the info. The check engine light comes on at random, then goes off again. I guess I better change the thing. One problem, I looked online at Autozone.com There are something like 12 or more listed. How the heck do I know which one to get? (I did search for this make and model truck and got that whole list of them)..... ????? You could remove the bad one and take it to the Ford Dealer. At least in theory the Ford dealer can tell by the codes on the certification label. What year model, engine, and transmission do you have? Ed >>>I just spent an hour trying to determine what the thing is in my >>>exhaust pipe with the wire broken off of it. Turns out to be an [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > this make and model truck and got that whole list of them)..... > ????? >Thanks for the info. The check engine light comes on at random, then >goes off again. I guess I better change the thing. One problem, I >looked online at Autozone.com There are something like 12 or more >listed. How the heck do I know which one to get? (I did search for >this make and model truck and got that whole list of them)..... ????? An intermitant lite is considered more serious than a steady lite. Find someone with a code reader to find out what's going on. Pete >>Thanks for the info. The check engine light comes on at random, >>then [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > An intermitant lite is considered more serious than a steady lite. > Find someone with a code reader to find out what's going on. Actually I think a "blinking" light is considered more serious. If the "Service Engine Light Soon" light blinks, then you have a more serious problem that require immediate attention. From a Ford Owner's Guide: "Service engine soon: The Service engine soon indicator light illuminates when the ignition is first turned to the ON position to check the bulb. Solid illumination after the engine is started indicates the On Board Diagnostics System (OBD-II) has detected a malfunction. Refer to On board diagnostics (OBD-II) in the Maintenance and Specifications chapter. If the light is blinking, engine misfire is occurring which could damage your catalytic converter. Drive in a moderate fashion (avoid heavy acceleration and deceleration) and have your vehicle serviced immediately by your authorized dealer. "Under engine misfire conditions, excessive exhaust temperatures could damage the catalytic converter, the fuel system, interior floor coverings or other vehicle components, possibly causing a fire." An intermittent light would indicate a less serious problem than a blinking light. It would be a problem on that might be just at the failure point that clears and then reoccurs (maybe a failing O2 sensor, or an EGR problem, or maybe just a poor sealing gas cap). Either way, you should have the codes read. Ed >> An intermitant lite is considered more serious than a steady lite. >> Find someone with a code reader to find out what's going on. > >Actually I think a "blinking" light is considered more serious. If the >"Service Engine Light Soon" light blinks, then you have a more serious >problem that require immediate attention. From a Ford Owner's Guide: My reference was to a blinking lite. I need to clean up my vocabulary. An 'intermitent' lite may be a problem or a pending problem. Lites that blink steady mean get it looked at NOW. Pete |
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