Failing the emissions test.
What does an oxygen sensor do in a car.
Let s take a closer look at just what an oxygen sensor does and the steps you can take to do the work yourself.
Still many people are unsure about what the oxygen sensor actually does.
Every new car and most cars produced after 1980 have an oxygen sensor the sensor is part of the emissions control system and feeds data to the engine management computer the goal of the sensor is to help the engine run as efficiently as possible and also to produce as few emissions as possible.
An oxygen sensor does not have to fail completely to give you problems.
In your car a functioning o2 sensor ensures that your engine is running at top performance.
Check engine light comes on.
When functioning the o2 sensor sends data to the management computer located within the engine.
Your oxygen sensor s readings are transmitted to your engine in real time and helps your car determine its fuel to air ratio in order to maximize its performance.
Functioning like a monitor your oxygen sensor works like this.
The oxygen sensor or o2 sensor is a key component of your vehicle s emissions system and dates back to the earliest days of electronic engine controls.
On the contrary even a failing o2 sensor sometimes called a lazy o2 sensor may cause your car to have a few issues.
What does an oxygen sensor do.
The sensor measures the oxygen content of the exhaust gases and compares it to the oxygen proportion in ambient air and sends information on the gases to the engine computer.
A bad or failing oxygen sensor will have a negative impact on environmental emissions and engine performance so there are a 3 things to watch out for before your oxygen sensor completely fails.
The o2 sensor tip is located inside of your exhaust pipe the oxygen sensor detects the percentage of oxygen in the exhaust.
All cars that were manufactured post 1980 feature an oxygen sensor.
What is an oxygen sensor.
Oxygen sensors work by producing their own voltage when they get hot approximately 600 f.
The inside and the outside of the bulb is coated with a porous layer of platinum which serve as the electrodes.
On the tip of the oxygen sensor that plugs into the exhaust manifold is a zirconium ceramic bulb.
Failing oxygen sensors were the most common repair performed by north american automotive mechanics for the 5th year in a row with cars older than 10 years constituting most repairs.
The oxygen sensor transmits the data to the vehicle s pcm to maintain the optimal air to fuel ratio for your engine.
What does an oxygen sensor do in a car.
Most newer vehicles have a heated element to the o2 sensor to compensate for when the engine is cold and will be putting extra fuel into the cylinders until it reaches.
If your car is slow to accelerate or if the engine stops running all of a sudden then the oxygen sensor may be the culprit in both scenarios.
If you notice any of the following signs you may have a bad o2 sensor or one that is about to go bad.
