testing oxygen sensor?

[perfk]

I posted a while back about getting some not-too-flash mileage from my Levin. I've tried a few things, and still scratching my head a bit.

I'm told that the oxygen sensors can get stuffed sometimes.
How do you test them? (is this something I can buy a tool for and do at home? something I send it to a mechanic to do? or something you can't test for and I just have to buy a new one and see if it makes things any better?).

As always, any help appreciated

[rolla_fxgt]

go to an auto electrician, they normaly can fix them. they fixed mine. New ones arent cheap from what i've been told

[Crampy]

Find the wire from the sensor and hook up a voltmeter to it. When your car is idling, the voltage will hunt around, centering on around .5 Volts. Stab a throttle a bit and the voltage should change correspondingly. Make sure you use a low range on the mutlimeter too, they only go from 0-1 Volts.

[EVL20V]

i mean who wants to pay a mechanic/electrician when you can do yourself

[rolla_fxgt]

i mean who wants to pay a mechanic/electrician when you can do yourself

Yeah but i knew mine was fcuked so i had to pay for it to be cleaned up & reset or what ever the trick is to fix it with out replacment.

Lesson is doent loan it to a cheap ass who puts 91 in it

[Bumpy]

Anyone know how to fix/tidy an oxy sensor?

[sergei]

Search post under my name. I have done couple of post regarding testing and cleaning. You cannot clean them as in detergent or solvent way (as it will damage it). The only way to clean safely is using butane torch.

[perfk]

wicked - thanks guys
we'll try the test this weekend and see what we can find out

I mean, I'm still getting pretty good mileage out of the car - just not as good as when I first got it, and I'm a real grandma about getting great gas mileage

[sergei]

you don't need a fancy test, just check VF voltage on diagnostics plug while rpms are about 2000. The voltage should be 2.5v (give or take 0.2v - it is only 5 steps anyway - 0v rich/dead oxygene sensor, 1.75v rich, 2.5v normal, 3.75v lean, 5v extremly lean - air leak or other fault) most of the time (much more consistent than measuring Oxygen sensor).

[Crampy]

All this talk of oxy sensors, I thought I'd check the one on my FXGT. Turns out the wire had been ripped off and the body of the sensor itselfs was bent to buggery.

Went to Pick-A-Part and $11 later, I had a replacement.

I chucked it in this morning and away she goes. Good stuff.

I'm sure these things normally go for over $100 new.

[sergei]

about ~$200

[matt dunn]

About $65 for a single wire.

$150ish for a 3 wire,

and about 180 for a 4 wire.

Single wire oxygen sensors are not even worth worrying about.
They have so little effect that it will take you 6 months to save enough gas to make back your $11.

3 and 4 wires are almost considered a main sensor nowdays they have so much effect.

[rolla_fxgt]

thats not bad for price, i got quoted 350ish for one for my 20v about 5 years ago. hmm might buy a new one since mines starting to go again

[matt dunn]

I can probably do a bit better on those as they are just round the retail price. PM me if you really want one with how many wires.

[Crampy]

Single wire oxygen sensors are not even worth worrying about.
They have so little effect that it will take you 6 months to save enough gas to make back your $11.

3 and 4 wires are almost considered a main sensor nowdays they have so much effect.

Damn it, now you tell me. Oh well, it's in now and hasn't done anything bad, so it'll stay.