6 Symptoms of a Faulty O2 Sensor | Engine Misfires, Poor Gas Mileage & More
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Published 2024-06-11
What an oxygen sensor does and why it's important for engine performance
The 6 common symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor:
1. Poor fuel economy
2. Rough idle
3. Hesitation and lack of power
4. Failed emissions test
5. "Rotten egg" smell from exhaust
6. Flashing check engine light
Potential causes leading to oxygen sensor failure:
Age and high mileage
Oil contamination
Leaded gasoline or fuel additives
Electrical damage
Excessive exhaust heat
How to diagnose a faulty oxygen sensor:
Scan for diagnostic trouble codes related to oxygen sensors
Use a multimeter to check sensor signal voltage
Monitor in real-time with a live data scanner
Before replacing your oxygen sensor, check for exhaust leaks that could impact readings. Often, the most cost-effective solution is to replace the oxygen sensor.
For a more detailed checklist on diagnosing this issue, read our recent blog post here:
www.autocornerd.com/car-idles-fine-but-sputters-wh…
#oxygensensor #checkenginelight #OBD2
Timecode:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:00:04 - Recognizing a bad oxygen sensor
00:00:08 - Function of an oxygen sensor
00:00:12 - Types of oxygen sensors
00:00:18 - Focus on the upstream sensor
00:00:22 - Importance of the air-fuel ratio
00:00:26 - Sensor contamination
00:00:31 - Rich or lean air-fuel mixture
00:00:36 - Key symptoms of a bad sensor
00:00:41 - Symptom 1: Poor Fuel Economy
00:00:50 - Symptom 2: Rough Idle
00:01:23 - Symptom 3: Hesitation or Lack of Power
00:01:46 - Symptom 4: Failed Emissions Test
00:02:22 - Symptom 5: "Rotten Egg" Smell
00:02:54 - Symptom 6: Flashing Check Engine Light
00:03:11 - Causes of sensor failure
00:03:38 - Cause 1: Age and Mileage
00:03:47 - Cause 2: Oil Contamination
00:03:55 - Cause 3: Leaded Gasoline and Fuel Additives
00:04:01 - Cause 4: Electrical Damage
00:04:06 - Cause 5: Excessive Exhaust Heat
00:04:20 - Diagnosing a faulty sensor
00:04:24 - Using an OBD2 Scanner
00:04:32 - Measuring signal voltage
00:04:50 - Live data scanner
00:04:54 - Exhaust leaks
00:05:00 - Cleaning vs. Replacing the sensor
00:05:04 - Cleaning limitations
00:05:19 - Replacement recommendation
00:05:27 - Conclusion and recommendations
00:05:32 - Outro and additional resources
All Comments (10)
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excellent job
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Excellent
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Mine are welded in with rust. Please can you tell me if its OK to run with them unplugged, just for diagnostics to see if that can help determine if they even need replaced. I am getting sensor codes but can't tell if its bad sensors or wiring P0158 Oxygen Sensor Circuit High Bank 2 Sensor 2 P0300 Multiple Random Misfire P0152 Oxygen Sensor Circuit High Bank 2 Sensor 1 P0157 Oxygen Sensor Circuit Low Bank 2 Sensor 2
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I have a toyota camry 2018 se 2.5l I have misfire cyl 2. Code and also random misfire I believe p3000 I have new fuel pump and filter. New Injectors.. new spark plugs. swapped coils to check if it changes to different cylinder code. Checked leakage for valves. Good. Intake sensor good. MAF sensor is good. Haven't checked compression. But when I disconnect cylinder 2 while misfiring it doesn't change meaning seems that exactly still the area where the problem resides. All others (1,3,4) when disconnected cause it to misfire even more.. I do also get engine power reduced sign on dash. May my 02 sensor for any faulty reason possibly be causing my ECU to think it's running rich or lean and be causing the random misfire and the specific cylinder 2 misfire?? Without popping up a 02 sensor code on OBD 2 scanner???
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Can this be why my dodge ram 1500 has a hard time to start? I have to try n turn it over bout 3 times before it starts. N sometimes i can smell fuel when im tryin to start it
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Ok I don't have a code reader and have run into an issue with my 2011 camry. The first start up in the morning is great. The engine cranks right up. After I have driven it for a few miles 10, 20 or 30 and let it sit for a moment it cranks, cranks and cranks then eventually starts up. I recently put in a new battery and replaced the air filter. Any suggestions where to go next? I've been told the fuel pump, but the car idles and runs great other than the start up on a warm engine.
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Can a bad 02 sensor makes makes engine rattle when accelerating?
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Lol just got the P0031 error code.
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Why do we need this idiotic sensors, can the car ve simple without all this?????????
