I have a bad oxygen sensor, bad power steering sensor, and a bad cam shaft sensor? Should I replace any of them?
I have a bad oxygen sensor, bad power steering sensor, and a bad cam shaft sensor? Should I replace any of them?
My car has 190000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
When you say you have three bad sensors I can only assume you have had them tested and the end result is three bad sensors. If they tested bad then they should be replaced. The power steering sensor senses the load of the steering on the engine so it can raise the idle during parking maneuvers. The O2 sensor is used for fuel control and it may effect engine power and fuel mileage. The camshaft sensor cay cause no starts, engine running problems and all three will turn on the check engine light.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Poor Engine Performance
Will a bad O2 sensor cause rough idle and loss of engine power? You bet. Moreover, you may also notice poor acceleration, engine misfires, and even stalling. Bad oxygen sensors disrupt all kinds of essential engine functions, including engine timing, combustion intervals, and air-fuel ratio.
NO, If your vehicle utilizes electronic engine controls (It wouldn`t have O2 sensors if it didn`t), these are necessary for the ECM to adjust the air/fuel ratio. Without them, the engine won`t run properly, fuel mileage will suffer, emissions will be uncontrolled, and the vehicle will fail emission testing.
A bad oxygen sensor could cause sluggish and rough driving with stalls, along with poor fuel efficiency and high pollution. And if you leave it there for several months, it may lead to serious problems in the engine and catalytic converter which cost thousands of dollars to fix or replace.
– the air/fuel ratio sensor provides a higher level of sensitivity than the traditional oxygen sensor. This allows the EMS to respond to the needs of the engine with higher accuracy, which enables the fuel to burn more efficiently, therefore producing lower emissions and increasing the vehicle`s fuel economy.
Oxygen sensor failure can often be traced to one of three common factors: Age and high mileage, an internal contaminant (poisoning) or an electrical issue. One or two wire unheated oxygen sensors should be inspected or replaced every 30,000 miles.
O2 sensors were introduced mainly for emissions regulation, trying to keep them as low as possible. So the answer is no, they are not absolutely needed for engines to function properly if they would designed to run without one.
If you remove the oxygen sensors from your vehicle, you will ruin the efficiency of the engine, thus consuming around 10 to 20 percent more gas than otherwise required, and also cause early failure of many components such as the spark plugs.
Most cars have at least two oxygen sensors located throughout the exhaust system; at least one in front of the catalytic converter and one or more downstream from the catalytic converter. The “pre-cat sensor” regulates fuel supply, while the downstream sensor measures the efficiency of the catalytic converter.
Is the NOx sensor the same as a Lambda (Oxygen) Sensor? The short answer is NO. While one component measures oxygen gas, the other measures nitrogen oxide gas. Both are valuable in their own way.
The oxygen or lambda sensor is one of the most important and one of the most misunderstood components of a modern fuel injection system.
MALFUNCTIONING AND FAILED SENSORS Oxygen sensors can fail when the sensor`s ceramic element is exposed to certain types of silicone compounds or when an oil-burning engine leads to the sensor becoming oil-fouled. Also, a small amount of tetra-ethyl lead in the gasoline can kill an oxygen sensor.
Yes, the oxygen sensor can damage the catalytic converter, although the damage is indirect. What actually happens is that the oxygen sensor malfunctions and sends incorrect data to your vehicle`s main computer chip.
The catalytic converter, or cat for short, is responsible for removing harmful emissions from the exhaust. If the two O2 sensors collectively sense that the oxygen levels don`t change significantly after running through the cat, it`s a sign of a bad catalytic converter.
The tell-tale signs of a failing oxygen sensor include the engine misfiring or your vehicle running roughly or irregularly during idle. Additionally, there are other engine performance issues associated with a failing oxygen sensor such as stalling, hesitation, and loss of power.
Without a proper signal from the mass air flow sensor, the powertrain control module (PCM), which manages the engine, transmission, and other systems in your car, won`t know how much fuel the engine needs. This can either cause the engine to run too lean (too little fuel) or too rich (too much fuel).
Bypassing a sensor allows the alarm system to temporarily ignore a particular sensor. The system can arm stay or arm away and monitor all other sensors except those that are bypassed. This is used frequently when a sensor is malfunctioning or if a user wants to leave a window or door open during an arming cycle.
Can I Just Clean My O2 Sensor? The short answer is that our strongest gasoline fuel additive, B-12 Chemtool Total Fuel System Clean-Up (part #2616), and a good tune-up might indirectly solve your problems.
Yes, it`s perfectly safe to use. Despite what some of the doom-mongers are spouting on here. Yes there are better things to use but if WD40 is what you`ve got then just go ahead.
The O2 sensor lets the engine control module know how much oxygen is in the exhaust so that the module can make adjustments to the combustion chamber mixture. This mixture is air and fuel. If the O2 sensor is bad, the readings will be off and the engine control module may put too much fuel in the chamber.
Can I Drive My Car With A Bad Oxygen Sensor? We recommend against driving with a bad O2 sensor as the powertrain is not running on the correct fuel mixture. While it may perform fine in the beginning, if your engine is running rich and using too much fuel it might begin to clog the catalytic converter.
MALFUNCTIONING AND FAILED SENSORS Oxygen sensors can fail when the sensor`s ceramic element is exposed to certain types of silicone compounds or when an oil-burning engine leads to the sensor becoming oil-fouled. Also, a small amount of tetra-ethyl lead in the gasoline can kill an oxygen sensor.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I have a bad oxygen sensor, bad power steering sensor, and a bad cam shaft sensor? Should I replace any of them?
ANSWER : When you say you have three bad sensors I can only assume you have had them tested and the end result is three bad sensors. If they tested bad then they should be replaced. The power steering sensor senses the load of the steering on the engine so it can raise the idle during parking maneuvers. The O2 sensor is used for fuel control and it may effect engine power and fuel mileage. The camshaft sensor cay cause no starts, engine running problems and all three will turn on the check engine light.
Power steering pump on 2012 Acura TL needs to be replaced. Due to location a power bar also needs to be replaced. Cost over $3,000. Is this a good price?
ANSWER : Question sent to CS for a quote on replacing the power steering motor, programming, and replacing an electrical component attached to the motor. This is in comparison to a quote that was given for the parts and labor.
Had the steering rack replaced and now the steering angle sensor is acting up after a front end alignment.
ANSWER : Hi there. If the codes are coming on for the steering angle due to either the sensor failing or the plug not plugged in all the way. Check the harness on the steering sensor and see if its plugged in. If the harness is plugged in and has not moisture on it, then the sensor has probably failed. You can have the vehicle realigned, but if the sensor has failed, it will not correct its self. I recommend replacing the steering angle sensor. If you need further assistance with the steering angle sensor, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Diagnostic code read o2 sensor bad, replaced o2 sensor, cleared code but engine light came back on, is it caused by bad air filter
ANSWER : Hello there. Typically jump starting a vehicle doesn’t trigger an OBD-II error code. However, one of the most common misdiagnosis issues with the P-2270 is replacing the O2 sensor before diagnosing if there are any exhaust leaks. Obviously, you’ll want to check for the exhaust leaks first, repair the damaged component, and then clear the codes before scanning the vehicle again. Sometimes the electrical harness attached to the O2 sensor is damaged or dirty which will also trigger this error code. The noise and vibration may be an indicator of a loose exhaust pipe, which may be the source of the error code staying on. If you need any help, have a technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to diagnose your Check Engine Light and make the necessary repairs.
had power steering pump replaced but power steering fluid is leaking
ANSWER : This suggests that you may have a leak somewhere else in your power steering system such as one of the hoses or the rack and pinion system. As you may know, the power steering system is a highly pressurized system that can have as much as 300+psi of pressure in the system at times, so it is not uncommon for these types of leaks to happen. If you’d like to get this fixed, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose the leak in your power steering system and make the the necessary repairs to fix it.
power steering fluid is leaking
ANSWER : With a power steering fluid leak that big, you certainly should have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible to find the exact cause. Any of the components you listed can be the source of the leak. The power steering pump as well as the rack & pinion steering unit rely on the fluid for lubrication as well as cooling. The whining you hear is from the pump when the fluid runs low or empty. Your issue can be caused by something as simple as a fluid hose right now, but continued ’running dry" of the power steering fluid, can result in damage to both the pump and the rack & pinion unit. If that happens, you can take what may be a repair of a few hundred dollars and turn it into a repair of a couple of thousand dollars.
Could the power steering pressure sensor cause my steering wheel to be hard or hard to steer?
ANSWER : Hello. The pressure switch (or "sensor") on your vehicle supplies a signal to the engine computer to increase engine idle speed as the power steering line pressure increases. If the switch were bad, what you would notice is the engine stalling or idle speed dropping very low as you turn the wheel toward the extreme left or right position.
If the engine is not slowing or stalling when you turn the wheel, then the switch is probably OK. Among the causes of excessive steering effort are very low tire pressure, low power steering fluid or trapped air in the system, damaged or loose power steering belt, and damaged steering rack.
If you would like to have this resolved, a certified professional from YourMechanic can diagnose your steering issue and follow through with needed repairs.
Power steering is hard, softens when I accelerate
ANSWER : Well given the symptoms, it sounds like the power steering pump is not putting out adequate pressure. When you replaced the power steering pump, did you use an OEM pump? If not, I would suggest having the power steering pressure checked, and replace the pump with an OEM pump if necessary to ensure the pump is good quality. Also, I know you said the pipes have been replaced, but does that include the pressure hose between the pump and the steering box? If not, that could be an issue as well.
You should also check the front end steering and suspension components, as a failing steering rod or ball joint could be binding, causing the steering to be stiff until it has enough pressure to overcome the bind.
If you want to have the steering problem thoroughly diagnosed, you can contact a qualified professional, such as one from YourMechanic.
