O2 sensor failure and engine overheating (1997 Geo)?
GirlWithACar
10-22-2015, 08:18 PM
Hi everyone,
My car started acting up today after the engine check light for an O2 sensor error went off (code P0141).
It's a 1997 Geo Prizm LSI 1.6L automatic.
I've had issues with my O2 sensors last year and a friend changed the upstream sensor in April 2015. Everything was fine until this morning when my engine check light went off again. I decided to ignore it for now, but on my ride home (20 miles), the needle of my temperature gauge indicated a high temperature when I was at a red light. This never happened before despite my multiple problems with O2 sensors in the past. I instantly blasted the heater full power to circulate cold water in the engine (someone told me this years ago, that hot air circulates cold water and cold air hot water) and the needle went back to normal and stayed there until I arrived home, which was about a 2 minute drive after the abnormal temperature change.
My question is, is this pure coincidence, or can the O2 sensor failure cause the temperature to rise? What else could I check to make sure my engine is not overheating? I honestly don't even know where/how to check my coolant level for instance. Also, outside temps today were in the 50s, so I was not in a crazy hot desert :)
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Val
My car started acting up today after the engine check light for an O2 sensor error went off (code P0141).
It's a 1997 Geo Prizm LSI 1.6L automatic.
I've had issues with my O2 sensors last year and a friend changed the upstream sensor in April 2015. Everything was fine until this morning when my engine check light went off again. I decided to ignore it for now, but on my ride home (20 miles), the needle of my temperature gauge indicated a high temperature when I was at a red light. This never happened before despite my multiple problems with O2 sensors in the past. I instantly blasted the heater full power to circulate cold water in the engine (someone told me this years ago, that hot air circulates cold water and cold air hot water) and the needle went back to normal and stayed there until I arrived home, which was about a 2 minute drive after the abnormal temperature change.
My question is, is this pure coincidence, or can the O2 sensor failure cause the temperature to rise? What else could I check to make sure my engine is not overheating? I honestly don't even know where/how to check my coolant level for instance. Also, outside temps today were in the 50s, so I was not in a crazy hot desert :)
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Val
Black Lotus
10-22-2015, 09:34 PM
Just some thoughts.
Momentarily sticking thermostat, or
An air bubble in the cooling system, which sometimes takes up station at the water temp sensor-- which drives it crazy until the cooling system pushes it out. If your cooling system is low on coolant you may have lots of air bubbles.
Some cars are sensitive to O2 sensors, so if you need another, you may want to make sure you get one from the car's manufacturer, not from Oreily or NAPA.
Make sure you don't have any coolant or whatever leaking on the O2 sensor, which kills them too.
Make sure you don't have any vacuum leaks (old hoses) which drives the fuel mixture lean, the computer tries to compensate, and if it can't, it blames it on the O2 sensor.
Momentarily sticking thermostat, or
An air bubble in the cooling system, which sometimes takes up station at the water temp sensor-- which drives it crazy until the cooling system pushes it out. If your cooling system is low on coolant you may have lots of air bubbles.
Some cars are sensitive to O2 sensors, so if you need another, you may want to make sure you get one from the car's manufacturer, not from Oreily or NAPA.
Make sure you don't have any coolant or whatever leaking on the O2 sensor, which kills them too.
Make sure you don't have any vacuum leaks (old hoses) which drives the fuel mixture lean, the computer tries to compensate, and if it can't, it blames it on the O2 sensor.
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