What EXACTLY does O2 sensor do?
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Lifetime Maxer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 480
What EXACTLY does O2 sensor do?
Okay, I tried a search on this, so please don't freak out on me...
Can someone just tell me exactly what the O2 sensors do? I'm getting an error code for one of my front O2 sensors, but the guy at the Nissan dealer is telling me that all it does is trip the SES light when it goes bad, and that it won't affect driveability or performance at all. The car doesn't feel any different, and gas mileage is still great....should I replace it anyway?? What symptoms should I watch for that a bad O2 sensor might cause??? Any suggestions??
-Chad
Can someone just tell me exactly what the O2 sensors do? I'm getting an error code for one of my front O2 sensors, but the guy at the Nissan dealer is telling me that all it does is trip the SES light when it goes bad, and that it won't affect driveability or performance at all. The car doesn't feel any different, and gas mileage is still great....should I replace it anyway?? What symptoms should I watch for that a bad O2 sensor might cause??? Any suggestions??
-Chad
It senses the amount of oxygen in the exhaust stream. Simply, the ECU uses this information to detect if the engine is running rich or lean, and adjusts the air/fuel ratio accordingly.
On a modern car, the O2 sensor located downstream of the catalytic converter tells the ECU if the converter is working properly or not.
On a modern car, the O2 sensor located downstream of the catalytic converter tells the ECU if the converter is working properly or not.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 458
Originally posted by mzmtg
It senses the amount of oxygen in the exhaust stream. Simply, the ECU uses this information to detect if the engine is running rich or lean, and adjusts the air/fuel ratio accordingly.
On a modern car, the O2 sensor located downstream of the catalytic converter tells the ECU if the converter is working properly or not.
It senses the amount of oxygen in the exhaust stream. Simply, the ECU uses this information to detect if the engine is running rich or lean, and adjusts the air/fuel ratio accordingly.
On a modern car, the O2 sensor located downstream of the catalytic converter tells the ECU if the converter is working properly or not.
Donating Maxima.org Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 506
Did you read your error codes...
If it is the one atop the Ypipe(front O2) then this will definitely need to be replaced...slow..slower..bog..slower..
If it is the rear O2 sensor(right after the cat)it will not affect the performance of your Max.(I tripped my rear O2 sensor after a Ypipe/RTCat install combined with a Throttle body cleaning that afternoon. I think some of the gunk/crap that burned out tripped the O2sensor. Reset the ecu..no problems now, same rear O2 sensor.
reset your ecu...if it trips the O2 sensor again..replace it.
If it is the rear O2 sensor(right after the cat)it will not affect the performance of your Max.(I tripped my rear O2 sensor after a Ypipe/RTCat install combined with a Throttle body cleaning that afternoon. I think some of the gunk/crap that burned out tripped the O2sensor. Reset the ecu..no problems now, same rear O2 sensor.
reset your ecu...if it trips the O2 sensor again..replace it.
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