O2's dead after less than 10000 km/4 months?

[Deaks2]

Hi everyone.

I replaced my O2's last July. In October I had a CEL and 176 showed up. I thought it was because I was running rich at the time (loss of MPG) so I proceeded to replace the ACT and ECT, all the while doing a complete 120k. CEL went away for a while, and now it is back. 176

WHY?

<small>[ February 25, 2003, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: Deaks2 ]</small>

 

[ricksmol]

Do you have any sort of a coolant leak into the ehaust. This might **** your Oxygen sensors real quick.
Rick

 

[SolidState]

176....lean....check your intake gaskets...

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Sounds like you probably have a vaccum leak somewhere to one or more of the front 3 cylinders resulting in a lean mixture.

If you feel really adventurous you can try swapping the front and rear O2's with each other. If you still get a 176, then you're almost definitely running lean in the front.

 

[sdpatt]

Or it could be a failing O2 sensor.

 

[Yamaha V6]

Standard Products O2 Sensor, perhaps? I've had those fail on me more than the Ford's / Bosch ones.

 

[Deaks2]

It was a Canadian Tire Neimoth (or something) sensor.

The fact that it worked well for 4 months is what confuses me. What can I do short of ripping apart the snakes to see if the intake gasket(s) need replacing?

 

[DougLee25]

Hit up the bosch sensors and see if that solves the problem. Also, you might want to check for the vacuum leak. You could experience a high idle with a vacuum leak as well as a sucking sound under the hood. If you suspect a vacuum leak, take some carb and choke cleaner and mist the suspected area. If the idle changes, you have pinpointed the vacuum leak.

Doug

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Deaks2:
What can I do short of ripping apart the snakes to see if the intake gasket(s) need replacing?

As I suggested in my previous post, you could try swapping the front and rear O2 sensors to see if the code duplicates. If you get the same 176 code again, it is probably a true lean problem. If you get a 172 instead, then it's probably a bad sensor.

This would be a great, FREE, way of determining if the problem is indeed the sensor, or start you looking for a vacuum leak. (FWIW, I usually suggest using water in a windex-type bottle to help look for vacuum leaks since it won't damage the finish of the intake, and when it's sucked into the combustion chamber it will usually dramatically amplify the problem whereas carb cleaner will usually smooth the idle which can be harder for some people to detect.)

 

[Deaks2]

Will do. Thanks for the suggestions. Time to swap the O2's around...

 

[SHOtimer]

The PO of my car replaced the 02s because of a CEL light right before I bought it. I had to replace them 7k later due to failure, they were just generic sensors. I have put Bosch in and have been good the last 9k, put in the Bosch.
Doug