02 sensor - please help....

[bigschoen]

Car is very very sluggish - when accelerating, the car gets very choppy, like it's choking. Got a code saying the front O2 sensor was running rich - would the bad 02 sensor be causing this??? or is it possibly the tranny?

I posted this earlier but didn't get a response and i really need the help.

Also - after the car is warm - idle goes from about 800 (normal) and then starts dipping and raising - the oil light starts to fade in and out - and sometimes it will stall. Is this related to the 02 as well??? or something else?

I appreciate the help in advance...
thanks
adam in ohio
93 MTX 86,000 miles

 

[Huntervf]

Originally posted by bigschoen:
Car is very very sluggish - when accelerating, the car gets very choppy, like it's choking. Got a code saying the front O2 sensor was running rich - would the bad 02 sensor be causing this??? or is it possibly the tranny?

I posted this earlier but didn't get a response and i really need the help.

Also - after the car is warm - idle goes from about 800 (normal) and then starts dipping and raising - the oil light starts to fade in and out - and sometimes it will stall. Is this related to the 02 as well??? or something else?

Well, you can start by replacing that 02 sensor...though I'm suspicious about that being the problem, or at least the only problem. Perhaps a bad fuel pressure regulator, or a new IAC is in store. I know a friend of mine with a 93 MTX had a very similar idling problem, and it was the fuel pressure regulator. He didn't have any accelerating probs though.

I say change that 02 sensor, then see what happens. If you still have problems then we can start narrowing things down.


------------------
Chris Smith
SVT/SHO Society
Taurus SHO Representative
http://svt.sho.tripod.com
89 SHO MTX Light Titanium 122k, Mi. License 1ST SHO, Konig Reign 16 x 7.5 rims, Kuhmo 225/50VR 16's, fender airbox removed, 91+ badges, CincySHO police grill, Covercraft hood protector, silver underhood trim, Pilot driving lamps, Sony Xplod deck, Performance Plus reinforced front mount, Performance Plus y-pipe, Dynomax Magnum bullet race mufflers w/3.5 stainless tips, Eibach springs, KYB struts, MOOG control arms, Royal Purple synthetic lubricants, custom "long throw" shifter, fresh paint, Jolly Roger insignias, trophy winning and NOW in storage for the winter!
95 SHO MTX Silver Frost 92k SOLD 4.14.01 but not forgotton!
96 Contour SE ATX V6 Midnight Red(wife's car) 91k, custom grill & badging, otherwise stock & under warranty
93 Dodge Spirit 2.5 I4 ATX flat white 4 banger winter beater, 116k & struggling upwards

 

[EddieO]

I had 2 O2 sensors go out at different times. I have some experience with these unfortunately.
When I would take off from a stop, my car would be sluggish but a couple of seconds later it would kick in. My engine light would come on.
It cost me close to $500 to get it fix from a ford dealership. You might want to do it yourself or go to some place besides a Ford dealer.
Eddie

Alo your fumes from your exhaust will smell rich.

 

[sdpatt]

The surging idle speed sounds like a typical idle air bypass (IAB) valve problem. This the electrical servo driven valve that is located on the passenger side of the plenum split from the throttle body. There are two 5mm Allen screws that secure it to the manifold. Remove it, give it a good cleaning and if that doesn't completely correct the surging idle, you may need a new IAB valve.


------------------
Scott

1991, 252K miles, glass hood, police grill, SVO shifter, Catz fogs,
K&N, 73mm MAF, Superchip, PP Y-pipe, Borla cat-back, 190 lph pump
Eibach/Tokico/polyurethane, SHO Shop front & rear strut braces,
16x7.5" Moda R1, 225/55ZR16 Bridgestone RE730, -1 deg camber x 4,
Class II hitch, Silver award at the SHOklahoma Car Show

 

[Mikeys_Taurus]

Oh man! don't take it in for the O2 sensors. You could do both of them yourself in under 30 minutes with the right tools. Just through that bad boy on some jack stands and get busy!

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[bigschoen]

Oh don't worry, I am not paying anything for them but the part - so I might as well have them do it - they have f*cked up my car enough... they are doing it for free...I will cover only the part.

I will look at the IAB too and clean that. I am losing oil too and afriad that the main seal or front seal is busted....would that cause the idling prob or just loss of oil?
adam in ohio

Originally posted by Mikeys_Taurus:
Oh man! don't take it in for the O2 sensors. You could do both of them yourself in under 30 minutes with the right tools. Just through that bad boy on some jack stands and get busy!

 

[Huntervf]

A leaking main seal (front or rear) will just give you oil loss; no performance probs should appear.

------------------
Chris Smith
SVT/SHO Society
Taurus SHO Representative
http://svt.sho.tripod.com
89 SHO MTX Light Titanium 122k, Mi. License 1ST SHO, Konig Reign 16 x 7.5 rims, Kuhmo 225/50VR 16's, fender airbox removed, 91+ badges, CincySHO police grill, Covercraft hood protector, silver underhood trim, Pilot driving lamps, Sony Xplod deck, Performance Plus reinforced front mount, Performance Plus y-pipe, Dynomax Magnum bullet race mufflers w/3.5 stainless tips, Eibach springs, KYB struts, MOOG control arms, Royal Purple synthetic lubricants, custom "long throw" shifter, fresh paint, Jolly Roger insignias, trophy winning and NOW in storage for the winter!
95 SHO MTX Silver Frost 92k SOLD 4.14.01 but not forgotton!
96 Contour SE ATX V6 Midnight Red(wife's car) 91k, custom grill & badging, otherwise stock & under warranty
93 Dodge Spirit 2.5 I4 ATX flat white 4 banger winter beater, 116k & struggling upwards