O2 sensors, why do they go bad?
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
O2 sensors, why do they go bad?
So i was coming home from work, taking the sepulveda pass. I look down and notice my engine light came on. I just got gas 10 min ago, so i though maybe the gas cap wasnt on tight enough.
I pull over on a slight hill and check the gas cap. I turned it till it clicked (was already tight though). I go back to the car to turn it off and turn it back on ( i was thinking reboot at the time!) and the cel stays on. Now the CAR WONT START! Doesnt even crank.
Luckily, i parked on a hill, and was able to roll start it. I drive about 30 secs and my radio shuts off, 5 sec later, followed by my dash lights (lcd display lights only), 5 sec later folowed by my headlights. Window roll super slow and all lights are very dim. I drive home in the dark
Once home, i jumped my car to my other car and it starts and runs fine. Must be the battery. I replace the battery at autozone. Car starts and runs fine now... but the cel is still on.
I follow modifry's instructions on pulling the cel codes. I get:
2-0 ELECTRICAL LOAD DETECTOR (ELD)
4-1 Primary Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Sensor 1)
6-5 Secondary Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Sensor 2)
So both my o2 sensors are fried for some reason and the battery dies. Is this odd to anyone but me?
I did try the reset (backup fuse for 2 minutes), and the light came back on.
My related mods are:
CT supercharger, autometer boost and A/F ratio (yes i checked the t-taps; no OEM wires are cut). Spoon header. Mugen exhaust.
None of these were recent installs.
Anyone have any imput on what the problem is? Why did both my o2 sensor suddenly go bad? Which sensor is the one that goes in the header, and where is the other one (on the cat i assume?)?
Help!
I pull over on a slight hill and check the gas cap. I turned it till it clicked (was already tight though). I go back to the car to turn it off and turn it back on ( i was thinking reboot at the time!) and the cel stays on. Now the CAR WONT START! Doesnt even crank.
Luckily, i parked on a hill, and was able to roll start it. I drive about 30 secs and my radio shuts off, 5 sec later, followed by my dash lights (lcd display lights only), 5 sec later folowed by my headlights. Window roll super slow and all lights are very dim. I drive home in the dark
Once home, i jumped my car to my other car and it starts and runs fine. Must be the battery. I replace the battery at autozone. Car starts and runs fine now... but the cel is still on.
I follow modifry's instructions on pulling the cel codes. I get:
2-0 ELECTRICAL LOAD DETECTOR (ELD)
4-1 Primary Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Sensor 1)
6-5 Secondary Heated Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Sensor 2)
So both my o2 sensors are fried for some reason and the battery dies. Is this odd to anyone but me?
I did try the reset (backup fuse for 2 minutes), and the light came back on.
My related mods are:
CT supercharger, autometer boost and A/F ratio (yes i checked the t-taps; no OEM wires are cut). Spoon header. Mugen exhaust.
None of these were recent installs.
Anyone have any imput on what the problem is? Why did both my o2 sensor suddenly go bad? Which sensor is the one that goes in the header, and where is the other one (on the cat i assume?)?
Help!
#2
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Location: Charlotte NC
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The primary is the header and the other goes right in the cat.
Experiences I've had with bad O2 sensors have been REALLY bad gas and the O2 sensors getting fouled. Pull out your sensors and take a look at them. It's as simple as connecting a spark plug socket to your wrench. Same size and comes out pretty easy (for the cat one).
I assume there have been no exteme weather conditions in your area like an ice age or the sun moving closer to your city? Do you stop at the same brand gas stations? Was it a random fill up? I assume with your FI, and modified A/F that even slight changes in anything could cause problems, so look at the immediate. Check the gas station, and if you can afford it, have a shop drop your fuel tank.
Experiences I've had with bad O2 sensors have been REALLY bad gas and the O2 sensors getting fouled. Pull out your sensors and take a look at them. It's as simple as connecting a spark plug socket to your wrench. Same size and comes out pretty easy (for the cat one).
I assume there have been no exteme weather conditions in your area like an ice age or the sun moving closer to your city? Do you stop at the same brand gas stations? Was it a random fill up? I assume with your FI, and modified A/F that even slight changes in anything could cause problems, so look at the immediate. Check the gas station, and if you can afford it, have a shop drop your fuel tank.
#6
Originally Posted by DrDre1443,Feb 3 2006, 03:53 AM
The primary is the header and the other goes right in the cat.
Experiences I've had with bad O2 sensors have been REALLY bad gas and the O2 sensors getting fouled. Pull out your sensors and take a look at them. It's as simple as connecting a spark plug socket to your wrench. Same size and comes out pretty easy (for the cat one).
I assume there have been no exteme weather conditions in your area like an ice age or the sun moving closer to your city? Do you stop at the same brand gas stations? Was it a random fill up? I assume with your FI, and modified A/F that even slight changes in anything could cause problems, so look at the immediate. Check the gas station, and if you can afford it, have a shop drop your fuel tank.
Experiences I've had with bad O2 sensors have been REALLY bad gas and the O2 sensors getting fouled. Pull out your sensors and take a look at them. It's as simple as connecting a spark plug socket to your wrench. Same size and comes out pretty easy (for the cat one).
I assume there have been no exteme weather conditions in your area like an ice age or the sun moving closer to your city? Do you stop at the same brand gas stations? Was it a random fill up? I assume with your FI, and modified A/F that even slight changes in anything could cause problems, so look at the immediate. Check the gas station, and if you can afford it, have a shop drop your fuel tank.
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Slows2k,Feb 3 2006, 05:02 AM
Check for a blown ACG fuse 1st. Both 02 heaters and the ELD are on a common circuit.
This fuse can blow when the air pump control solenoid wiring gets cut by the drive belt.
This fuse can blow when the air pump control solenoid wiring gets cut by the drive belt.
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#10
Former Moderator
I'd bet on a blown fuse with that list of DTC's, or a open wire on the circuit before the splice to the 02's.
The sensors will still provide an input signal, just not have a heater element. They won't be accurate, nor will the PCM go into closed loop.
The sensors will still provide an input signal, just not have a heater element. They won't be accurate, nor will the PCM go into closed loop.