O2 sensors

purpose of 02 sensor
desisgn of the o2 sensor
components
operation
types of sensors

•purpose

emissions
adaptability - conditions
fuel economy
dependability
oxygen sensors are the key component in the operation of computer controlled fuel adn
emissions systems

•exhaust gas oxygen sensor

introduced by bosch in 1976

standard equipment since about 1980
an o2 (EGO) sensor monitors oxygen content in the exhaust and sends an electric signal to the
PCM to maintain a 14:7:1 air fuel mixture.
is the number 1 failure and source of excessive emissions on fuel injected cars
replacement required on 50% of all vehicles

located in the exhaust pipe

is a voltage producing sensor that meauseres oxygen. compares exhaust oxygen to atomophere
produces 0-1 (100 - 900 milli volts)

•components

outside - is threaded steel hex screwed into the exhaust. - 2 pieces

sheild - over top end - vented to allow constant sample of outside oxygen
inside- hollow ceramic body coated with zirconia and platinum

•sensor design

sensor is a electrode or electrical conductor

zirconium dioxide (Zr02) generates a small voltage at plus 600F
called the Nernst effect

•sensor operation

sensor lights off at 600F

sends voltage signal to the PCM

how can it do that????

nernst effects
electron theroy

•sensor operation lean

when exhaust stream is lean = high oxygen content
lean fuel/air mix

O2 sensor compares there is then little difference between exhaust oxygen content and outside
oxyge content

little oxygen difference = little electrical difference = low voltage signal - 100 - 400mv

•sensor`operation rich

when exhaust stream is rich = low o2 content

rich air/fuel ratio

with a great difference between exhaust oxygen content and outside oxygen content

great oxygen difference = great electrical difference = higher voltage signal 600- 900MV

•types of 02 sensors

unheated - one , and two wire

heated - three wire , and four wire
zerconia
titania
wideband

•unheated

unheated warm by the heat of exhaust only. at 600F may take several miinutes before they
operate = increased emissions

one wire sensors - older pre OBD - wire is signal to PCM (grounds through threads)

the two wires , sensor has a signal wire and a ground wire for the 02

cool off and go into open loop

•heated

heated 02 add an electrical resistace heater to help get the O2's up to temerature more quickly
and to help keep the sensor at operating temp. even at idle speeds

the three wires include the 02's signal, the power, the ground for the heater

reach operation in 10-60 seconds, always in closed loop

the four wire is the same but has ground for both (signal wire and signal ground)

the other two wires are the power and the ground for the heater

power heater
ground heater
signal heater

•wideband
wide band are on all new vehicles - read over a much broader range or band of mixtures

reach temp in 10 seconds

wide band operates at 1400F and switches in 100 milliseconds

this type of sensor usually uses five wires

one power wire

one ground wire for the electric heater
3 sensor wires

doesnt switch back and forth like a earlier sensor

recives a 5V reference to the PCM

when the air fuel mixture is at the the 14:7:1 "stoichiometric" the sensor produces no output

when the A/F ratio is lean it creates a positive current

opposite when rich

•02 sensor diagnostics

failed emissions
damaged cat
poor fuel mileage
MIL light on
fouled spark plugs
running rich or rough
sluggish performance

•service problems

sensor aging, slow response - combustion contaminates, oil and ash accumulate on sensing
element - responds slow - fat slow and lazy

failure. contaminates, oil, silicone, coolant, fuel, additives, silicone sprays.

•02 testing

the output voltage of a typical oxygen sensor varies depending on the oxygen content of the
exhuast gasses passing the sensor

rich exhaust, oxygen sensor voltage above 800 millivolts

lean exhaust, oxygen sensor voltage below 400millivolts

O2 along with the ECT (engine coolant temp) are the two main sensors that control loop status

if you have a defective upstream O2, vehicle will stay in open loop

sensor can be fooled by vacuum or exhaust leak.

check for operation

R&R and inspect
check resistance
check heater
artifically lean and rich
check for vacuum and exhaust leaks
check for different readings upstream and downstream
check cat

•checking zirconium with DVOM

run engine to operating temp - turn off. closed loop

back probe - DVOM millivolt scale - red to signal wire. black to ground

start vehicle - idle then 2000rpm

reading should toggle from 100 to 900 Mv

if it doesnt respond like above - test for rich or lean

•checking titania

check ohms 1000ohms when rich - 20,000 ohms when lean

check with scanner - should have rapid rich lean - back and forth and in closed loop
scanner crosscounts - 5.-6 every second

•heater circuit

two of the wires are the power and ground for the heater

check continuity - specs

check voltage
check ground

if heater is bad, replace the sensor

•o2 sensor inspection

black sooty deposits

white sandy or griddy deposits
antifreeze
dark brown deposits

•Confirm rich

scanner - data stream O2's

back probe - DVOM
artifically lean- remove vacuum line - should read lean
if doesnt do anything - REPLACE