If your car is showing signs of a bad sensor, follow the instructions for diagnosis above or take it to an auto parts store that offers diagnostic tools. If the sensor is wrong, it may not correctly calibrate that mixture and could cause it to run rich or lean. □ Yes, the sensor’s job is to calibrate the proper fuel mixture for your vehicle. ❓ Can a bad O2 sensor cause a car to run rich? □ Yes, an improper fuel mixture will cause the vehicle to sputter and may even cause it to backfire. Rough idling is one of the most common symptoms of a bad sensor. □ Yes, and this is most noticeable when the car is idling.
Any untreated problem, it will continue to get worse and may cause other issues with your vehicle. □ You should avoid driving with a bad sensor. ❓ Is it OK to drive with a bad oxygen sensor? A bad sensor may also cause a rotten egg smell. □ A car that is running too rich will often emit a gas smell. □ Yes, one of the first noticeable symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor is reduced performance and sluggishness. ❓ Can a bad O2 sensor cause poor acceleration? The codes are easily searchable online and will provide all the information you need about repair or replacement. Lastly, you diagnose your problem based on these codes. Pending issues are rechecked, and if the system fails again, it changes to an active code. Pending codes are indicative of a potential problem. Note: Active codes indicate a problem with the system.
In contrast, your O2 sensor voltage stays low (lower than 0.5 V), it means that there would be a lean exhaust code set. There will be fluctuations or toggles that occurs several times a second.Īssuming your O2 sensor voltage is high (over 0.5 V), it indicates that there would be a rich exhaust code set. In this step, you should take note of how quickly the O2 sensor voltage fluctuates from less than 0.5 V (low voltage) to more than 0.5 V (high voltage). Step 3: Pay attention to the fluctuation of your O2 sensor voltage For example, some models work with varying amperage and some models work with varying voltage. On new models of air/fuel ratio sensors, they have different operations based on manufacturers. Also, please remember that the O2 sensor voltage will change when you take a ride, the typical value is from zero to 1 volt.įor around 10 minutes, O2 sensor voltage will fluctuate as you drive. While the OBD2 scan tool is connected to your vehicle, you should take note of the O2 sensor voltage with the Engine Running and with the Engine Off. Step 2: Connect OBD2 scanner to your vehicle
Check your owner’s manual or the internet if you are unsure where to locate the DLC. Looking at the image, we can see what does a bad O2 sensor looks like.Ĭredit: Step 1: Connect OBD2 scanner and DLCįirstly, you want to connect the OBD2 scanner through the diagnostic link connector (DLC). Like all parts of a car, they undergo wear and tear.
There are quite a few reasons that an oxygen sensor may fail. High voltage manages the gas and oxygen ratios. It is highly efficient at getting the perfect fuel mixture for different driving conditions. Most often these are found on new model cars. Wide Band sensors are a rather uncommon type of sensor. A titania sensor lowers or raises resistance depending on whether the fuel is rich or lean. Titania sensors do not send signals in the same manner. It isn’t an option for many makes and models of cars. It works quite a bit differently than a traditional sensor. The titania type of O2 sensor is made from a different kind of ceramic than the zirconia style. When properly heated, the sensor sends more reliable information to the computer. The sensors are warm as soon as the car starts. The heated sensors, as the name implies, contain a heating circuit. They cool down quickly and are thus not the most efficient type. The unheated sensor uses the heat from the exhaust to warm up. Unheated sensors are the original style and are still used today. Zirconia is the most common type of O2 sensor. Most likely, you are working with a zirconia sensor.