O2 Sensor question (Page 1/3)
Mike in Sydney MAY 27, 07:27 PM
I'm getting an intermittent O2 sensor fault in my '86 GT (stock 2.8L, 104,000 miles). The Service Engine Soon (SES) light will come on and after the car has been driven for 10 miles or so. Sometime it will go off wile driving; sometimes it stays on. Checking the codes, I get a Code 13.

Since the sensor has never been replaced from new, I'm going to replace it with one of the new spares that I have. However, I came across this O2 sensor eliminator some time ago (https://www.magnumtuning.com/en/detail/ez-cel-fix-oxygen-sensor-simulator/pontiac/fiero). Just wondering, has anyone ever used on of these or does it fall in the same category of the magic pellets that you add to your gas tank to improve fuel economy?
IMSA GT MAY 27, 08:09 PM
I'll just say that if this does some weird crap, you'll probably dump a ton of fuel into the motor or not enough causing a lean condition. I'd stick with the stock sensor.
Mike in Sydney MAY 27, 09:35 PM
Not planning to use it. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of it or used it.
Mike in Sydney MAY 27, 09:40 PM
Not planning to use it. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of it or used it.
thesameguy MAY 27, 09:56 PM
These devices have been around for a while. They are NOT for OBD1 cars... they go in place of the second (cat monitoring) O2 sensor and provide a mostly steady .5v back to the ECM so it thinks the cat is doing its job. Definitely not appropriate for the first O2 sensor.
Skybax MAY 27, 10:04 PM
Original O2 will have very slow cross counts and affects performance long before the CEL comes on, and a new O2 is only $20.

(buy Denso and avoid Bosch and ACdelco, because Denso used to supply ACdelco but now Bosch supplies ACdelco so both are junk with short life)
Mike in Sydney MAY 28, 08:28 AM

quote
Originally posted by Skybax:

Original O2 will have very slow cross counts and affects performance long before the CEL comes on, and a new O2 is only $20.

(buy Denso and avoid Bosch and ACdelco, because Denso used to supply ACdelco but now Bosch supplies ACdelco so both are junk with short life)



I bought two Denso O2 sensors the last time I was in the US. I'm installing one tomorrow (Saturday).
theogre MAY 28, 10:13 AM

quote
Originally posted by Mike in Sydney:
I'm getting an intermittent O2 sensor fault in my '86 GT (stock 2.8L, 104,000 miles). The Service Engine Soon (SES) light will come on and after the car has been driven for 10 miles or so. Sometime it will go off wile driving; sometimes it stays on. Checking the codes, I get a Code 13.

Since the sensor has never been replaced from new, I'm going to replace it with one of the new spares that I have. However, I came across this O2 sensor eliminator some time ago (https://www.magnumtuning.com/en/detail/ez-cel-fix-oxygen-sensor-simulator/pontiac/fiero). Just wondering, has anyone ever used on of these or does it fall in the same category of the magic pellets that you add to your gas tank to improve fuel economy?

Back First... If they work at all, very doubtful...
Page sells a protect that is Illegal in US and others as "Emission Defeat" item. US EPA have gone after MagnaFlow and others for selling exhaust to eliminate the Cat for same issue.

Yes, Most O2 can read wrong way before it dies. Not just old "narrow band" ones.
Note: "Old school" often 02 sensors have lifetime to ~ 30,000 to 40,000 to get good readings and after gets slow to read and engine starts to have problems.
But other things can cause Same Problems...
● "One Wire" O2 sensors are fakes. They Have a 2nd wire, for GM usually Tan, attach to engine as Return Path. Clean/Fix All "Ground" in the engine and coat ends w/ silicone or brake grease.
● Any Exhaust leaks upstream of O2 sensor (Any leak between head and sensor) often leak Air into the pipe making sensor read Dilute Exhaust Gas.
● Any small Vacuum leaks can make 1 to All cylinder to run Lean. Intake Vac Port can effect 1 to All but can be intake gasket problems too.
● Many engine have Coolant flowing thru Intake Manifolds. Even a small coolant leak so engine "burn", or people using wrong sealers, it can Poison the O2 and Cat. If this happens, will Poison the new sensor too. Poison often a Sick Part, "Not Dead Yet."

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

Dennis LaGrua MAY 28, 10:54 AM
The only O2 sensor that has ever worked for me and has lasted is Denso. Most all of the Cheap Chinese made junk sold online either won't work or won't last. A friend went to save money and used one of these sensors , (TOMCO brand ) he bought off Amazon and it lasted less than a year. There's a lot of junk out there.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

MarkS MAY 28, 11:13 AM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

The only O2 sensor that has ever worked for me and has lasted is Denso. Most all of the Cheap Chinese made junk sold online either won't work or won't last. A friend went to save money and used one of these sensors , (TOMCO brand ) he bought off Amazon and it lasted less than a year. There's a lot of junk out there.




Yup, bought a Bosch O2 and it was garbage. Ended up using an NOS Delco O2 from Ebay, no issues.