0xygen sensor

[johnturner]

Are there any side effects of driving with a oxygen sensor thats not working properly? Apart from worse gas mileage?

Thanks!

[pikacha10]

you will most likely fail any emissions test, and polute the enviorment alot more

[barrie1]

You may start loosing power on the faster streets and it dosen't do much good for your engine at all. You do need it running correctly.

[johnturner]

Hey Barrie.

Thanks. Its actually a Volvo 850. The light has been reset. So if it comes on again time to change the 02 sensor. Are you familiar with these cars? I hear they are 2 sensors. Not sure which one needs changing though.

[articsteve]

http://www.volvospeed.com/volvo_performance.php

Enter, go to sensors.

Nowhere on the net does a more comprehensive site exist for one series of car.

850s and to a lesser extent S70s were a very popular car.  S60 comes along and bombs in North America.  Volvo must be still scratching their heads over that one.

[rtech]

Just because you have a code for an O2 sensor dose not mean that it is the O2 sensor that needs to be changed.  

If you have an intake Vacc leak it will set an O2 code  

If you have a weak fuel pump or a plugged fuel filter it can set an O2 cade  

If your converter efficiency is poor it can set an O2 code  

Depending on the year of the car ( OBDI or OBDII ) an O2 code can be set by a bad spark plug/ plug wire or a fouled injector.  

The replacement of O2 sensors is a good maintenance item but to replace them when they are not the cause of your concern but only the effected part is simply a waist of money and results in your vehicle remaining inefficient and possibley doing itself other harm.

[barrie1]

Good Post Rtech, Welcome to the Forum as well.

[johngenx]

A faulty fuel trim device (O2 sensor, air flow sensor, air mass sensor) can cause the fuel system to compensate rich and the added fuel load can destroy the catalytic converter.  Priced one out?  It's typically MUCH cheaper to replace the O2 sensor.

[suds]

okay,let me get this strait. u have a volvo 850
that had its cel reset,which said that the o2 sensor was bad.get the o2 sensor relaced.
it may cost u, but its better than leaving it  
for latter.

[maritime_storm]

Rich running also causes cylinder wall wear to increase because more fuel in the mixture washes the oil off the cylinder walls even more. Change the sensors and save money in the long run.

[johnturner]

Thanks a lot. Lots of helpful advice. Currently looking for a mechanic to replace it. Do you think I should go to a volvo specialist? Or can any mechanic fix it?

[maritime_storm]

Anyone, yourself included, can change them, they screw into usually both the exhaust manifold and after the cat. converter & plug into the wiring harness. Not a real technical part to change, though sometimes difficult to access and/or unthread.