How to replace a stuck oxygen sensor in your car?
Oxygen sensor replacement. How to replace an oxygen sensor that’s stuck in your car, DIY with Scotty Kilmer. Cool trick to remove an O2 sensor. If your car has check engine light on for a bad oxygen sensor code, that means it needs replacing. Oxygen sensor location, diagnosis, removal and repair.
What does the O2 sensor on a car do?
One of the most important sensors in modern cars is the oxygen sensor. Also known as the O2 sensor because O2 is the chemical formula for oxygen, the oxygen sensor monitors how much unburned oxygen is present in the exhaust as exhaust exits the engine. By monitoring oxygen levels, the sensor provides a means of measuring fuel mixture.
What happens if your oxygen sensor is dirty?
The oxygen sensor is an important part of a car engine. This device is part of a car’s emissions control system: it’s roughly the size of a spark plug, and tests the oxygen levels in a car’s exhaust stream. A dirty oxygen sensor can cause your “check engine” light to come on, and can also result in your car burning through extra gasoline.
What should I wear to clean an oxygen sensor?
Before you begin to lift your car and locate the oxygen sensor, put on a sturdy pair of work gloves to protect your hands. You should also wear a pair of protective eyeglasses or goggles in case any WD-40 or gasoline comes near your eyes.
When to replace the oxygen sensor in your car?
Those symptoms could also be indications of other problems, but the EPA says that replacing a bad oxygen sensor can improve fuel economy by as much as 40 percent, so clearly that is one place to look if your vehicle develops a greater thirst for gas. If your vehicle fails an emissions test, a faulty O2 sensor may be to blame for this as well.
Can a bad O2 sensor cause a car to have problems?
An oxygen sensor does not have to fail completely to give you problems. On the contrary, even a failing O2 sensor (sometimes called a “lazy” O2 sensor) may cause your car to have a few issues.
Where are the O2 sensors on a V-6 engine?
Modern vehicles with V-6 or V-8 engines could have as many as four O2 sensors — one located in each cylinder bank and one after each catalytic converter. If either the oxygen sensor in the cylinder block or the one for the catalytic converter fails, your vehicle could experience serious engine problems.
How do you remove the plug from an oxygen sensor?
To remove it, locate the small tab on the end of the plug. While pushing the tab down, pull the plug back by hand. If you’re having a hard time unplugging the sensor wire, push the tab down with a flathead screwdriver as you pull the connection back with your free hand.