O2 Sensor question

[camaro_speedemon]

How do you know if your O2 sensor is going bad?

[nitrox28]

It stops sensing O2. ;)

[camaro_speedemon]

TTT

[shortdog273]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by nitrox28:
It stops sensing O2. ;) <hr></blockquote>
:rolleyes: Newbie, if you're not gonna help, don't reply at all. Speedemon, it will usually trigger the SES light. Autozone can scan the code for you for free.

[viper98885]

O2 sensors should be changed on a maintenance schedule. I believe that the interval is about 30K miles for the single wire O2's and 50K miles on the newer ones (?4-Wire?). You can have the O2's checked at Autozone or with Autotap or other computer diagnosis machines that will give you a sensor readout. You will want the voltage from the O2 sensor to stay between 100 and 900 mV. If it is out of range, you will probably need new ones.

[Firebirdbabe420]

You need to watch it. Auto Zone told me that my o2 sensors went out. and that i only had 2. welll i have 4. and turns out, took it to a mechanic and put it on the diagnostics mabobber, and my whole catalytic converter is bad. Seen it coming. o2 sensors read fine and dandy. [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/fluffy.gif[/img]

[viper98885]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Firebirdbabe420:
You need to watch it. Auto Zone told me that my o2 sensors went out. and that i only had 2. welll i have 4. and turns out, took it to a mechanic and put it on the diagnostics mabobber, and my whole catalytic converter is bad. Seen it coming. o2 sensors read fine and dandy. [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/fluffy.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

This is true with many sensors on the car. Use them as a guideline for fixing problems. Dont jump to conclusion thinking that they are bad when their error code comes up. If you get a "Idle Air Control Valve can't set idle RPM" look beyond the sensor first...it could be a vacuum leak.

[camaro_speedemon]

Well the reason why I ask, is I installed an A/F ratio gauge and I'm 99% positive that I tapped the right wire according to the Haynes manual, blue I think, and I never see higher than stoich, even at WOT. Which makes me wonder if my O2 sensor is going bad.