If I don't fix the O2 sensors will that cause any further damage to the car????

If I don't fix the O2 sensors will that cause any further damage to the car????

Hunh? Are they bad as in not working, the car is reporting codes for the O2 sensors, missing, cracked, broken wires, or what? What year car? Does your state have emissions inspections?

If the sensors are not reporting the correct amount of oxygen in the exhaust, the car will not be able to properly adjust the air/fuel ratio. That can cause the car to run rich or lean. Rich is hard on the catalytic converter (causes them to overheat) and obviously causes decreased fuel economy. Lean can lead to burned pistons and valves.

Considering the cost of fuel these days versus the cost of O2 sensors, not to mention the potential for unnecessary pollution that my daughter will have to live with, replace the O2 sensors if you know they are bad. It is usually something a person with moderate mechanical abilities can do in just an hour or so, and you can pick up application specific sensors for around $60 at the neighborhood parts store. Borrow their O2 sensor socket to make the task a bit easier.

-Rod

Sorry for opening a new thread this belong's in my 98 24 Valve thread. But anyway the service engine light Is on & the mech told me that all 4 of them are bad , now how can you tell If your car Is running rich or lean???? And by the way Rod I'm having a daughter as well so the last thing I want to do Is Pollute!

Sorry for opening a new thread this belong's in my 98 24 Valve thread. But anyway the service engine light Is on & the mech told me that all 4 of them are bad , now how can you tell If your car Is running rich or lean???? And by the way Rod I'm having a daughter as well so the last thing I want to do Is Pollute!

The easiest way to determine if it's running lean or rich is to hook up a scan tool with a datastream feature and watch the Rich/Lean indication. However, many times only the professionals have such a scan tool and they usually will charge you to monitor this. You might also be able to use the I/M Readiness feature of some of the less expensive scan tools to find out if it is recording results indicating rich or lean. Or, if you want to get really creative, you can tap in to the O2 sensor wires and monitor the voltage realtime with a high impedance volt meter.

You can also remove the O2 sensors and test them using a multimeter and propane torch. However, if you are going to this effort, you may as well invest the $250 for four new sensors and replace them.

Enjoy your daughter! If it's your first child, you'll be amazed how much they pick up on. It will take a few months before she's to that point though. :) At 21 months, my daughter does something new every evening.

-Rod

Enjoy your daughter! If it's your first child, you'll be amazed how much they pick up on. It will take a few months before she's to that point though. :) At 21 months, my daughter does something new every evening.

-Rod

I got 3 months to go she's due Dec 31!!! I can't wait thanks!!!!!


Allen.