A new O2 sensor MIGHT help, but if you could give us more details about
which tests it failed (idle or road HC, NOx, etc) we collectively might
be able to help better.
Let me relate my latest experience with my O2 sensor.
I've been getting the O2 sensor bad engine code '21' since I got back
from my trip and noticed the truck running a bit rough. Clearly, it had
been bad awhile before that:
Figuring the AAMCO folks must have messed with the exhaust to drop the
tranny, I asked them to check the connections while they were under there
(they like to see the car 10 days after an O/H, since I was on my trip,
it was more like two weeks, but...). They found the black lead (ground???)
disconnected very near the sensor, checked, and their notes indicate it
had been broken when they started work. I don't know whether this AAMCO
shop, or the shop that did the work back in February did it, but the O2
sensor really got banged around to get the lead sliced. I managed to
silver-solder the lead together again, and while the truck runs noticeably
better, all is not well...
I was still getting the '21' code for awhile after fixing the lead. Now
I'm getting '51' and the exhaust smells like a bad-running GM - rotten eggs,
which I take to mean it's running rich. Runs nice and smooth, but I don't
want to melt my catalytic by asking it to digest all that gas (there's the
not insignificant issue of the price of gas too).
So I called the dealer, where they inform me that the sensor is on national
backorder! I suppose I'll buy the Bosch sensor from Chief or NAPA and do
some more soldering! Really would like a new harness, given the abuse this
one's received (nicked insulation on two other wires).
The installed O2 sensor has 83K miles on it, thus is due for R&R. Maybe
they tend to fail in the direction of running rich (higher O2 than reality?).
Good luck,
Jim
P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P-PP-P--P
I love lush forests, running streams, naked women, and motorcycles.
I hunt and eat red meat, thus I'm a game manager.
I own a fossil-guzzling truck, yet I Tread Lightly! wherever I go,
and pick up all the trash you environmentalist city folk leave behind.
I own and use an Evil Black Gun (or two) but I'm not a criminal.
Paradox? No, I'm from Dakota Territory (Montana) where a man's born FREE.
~%@%~ Politically Incorrect and Proud of It! ~%@%~
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