Can A o2 Sensor go bad without CEL?

I think my oxygen sensor is bad, but i'm not sure. It runs really rich, sometimes when i start driving at about 2k to 3k rpms it sound like i have a rev limiter at mid throttle. but when i put it at about 3/4 throttle it seems like it catches up with itself. I get a bunch of pops in the exhaust, and occasionaly shoot flames. This is really killing power. Most of the time when an oxygen sensor goes bad it usually throws a code. Should i go ahead and throw 100 a hundred bux into another O2 sensor?

bump

does anybody know?

Mine did the same thing a year ago. The car would lag for a bit then kick in with power. I thought it was the alternator but a few weeks later the check engine light came on and sure enough it was the O2 sensor. It's only like 70$ at Advanced Auto Pts. and I'm sure you can put it in yourself. Now don't take my advice 100%, I'm not a technician. Before you run off and buy a new sensor, I would go ask a mechanic at a Honda dealership. But that's my :2cents:

it never hurts to replace an o2 sensor if its old thatt is not nessacerly your problem though. you should have cel if its bad