...oxygen sensor malfunction. Is this actually damaging the engine ever since my car runs the same as it ever did?
2007-03-20 20:51:43 · 8 answers · asked by cinilak 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The oxygen sensor tell the engine management system how to adjust the fuel/air mixture. A defective sensor will send the wrong signals to the ecu and the mixture will be wrong.
This affects your fuel consumption, can ruin your catalytic converter and, as you've found out, your emissions.
I suspect your engine is running a little rich, which you quite possibly haven't noticed but the MoT has!
Hope that helps.
2007-03-20 21:13:58 · answer #1 · answered by champer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know for sure what MOT is,but I have an idea.An o2 or oxygen sensor (which doesn't care about oxygen),will basically tell the car ecm,pcm,etc...computer what the exhaust is "smelling" like,rich or lean and to adjust the fuel trim accordingly.This is the best way i can put it in layman's terms,sorry.If the o2 goes bad,you can pollute the air and lose 10 to 15 % fuel economy.With the excess fuel left in the engine,you could definitely damage it if left unchecked..
2007-03-20 21:04:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no, my van had that same problem and the check engine light came on every time. My husband changed the fuel filter, everything, even spark plugs, but nothing helped. It ran really rough for me. He bought a manual about the van and he changed both of the sensors that you asked about, it made the light go out and the van runs fine now.
He said it was hard to get to the intake one (hopefully you know where they are?) but the parts weren't that much money you could do it yourself if you don't or can't afford to take it to the dealership.
By the way, he is an electrician and auto repair isn't his specialty. Hopefully this helps :-/
2007-03-20 20:57:49 · answer #3 · answered by kaliroadrager 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The car will run just fine you just need to get a new oxygen sensor. the only thing it will do is stop you car from passing.
2007-03-20 20:54:33 · answer #4 · answered by mason2145 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No but the engine can be running too rich or too lean ( too much gas or too little). Have a diagnostic done to pin point the problem.
2007-03-20 22:15:49 · answer #5 · answered by Chad L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is unlikely to be damaging the engine, but very likely to be damaging the catalytic converter.
2007-03-20 22:50:16 · answer #6 · answered by Neil 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like it is running either too lean or rich, could mess up your converter after a while
2007-03-20 20:58:27 · answer #7 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
were you running it on tesco or morrisons fuel.
if so, visit their website, it is a known problem,
dont run it on no oil company fuel, stick to bigger brands esso, bp etc..
2007-03-20 21:01:39 · answer #8 · answered by dsclimb1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋