Diagnosing O2 Sensors

On this episode of Fear No Fix, Chris and Jordan break down how to diagnose O2 Sensor issues.

If you need to read codes or live data to help diagnose your issue, BlueDriver can help! Get the #1 Scan Tool on Amazon here:

Top DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) associated with O2 Sensors:

• Heater Control Circuit - P0030, P0031, P0032, P0036, P0037, P0038
• Heater Resistance - P0053, P0054
• O2 Sensor Circuit - P0133, P0139, P0140
• Sensor Heater Circuit - P0135, P0141
• System Too Lean - P0171
• System Too Rich - P0172
• Catalyst System Efficiency - P0420

Top symptoms associated with O2 Sensors:

• Check Engine Light
• Reduced Fuel Economy
• Reduced Engine Performance
• Rough Idle
• Exhaust Odor
• Black Exhaust Smoke
• Failed Emission Test
• Engine Misfire
• Engine Over Heating
• Catalytic Converter Damage

Video Sections:
Intro: (0:00)
Visual Inspections (1:51)
Testing Heater Circuit (4:10)
Live Data on Older Sensors (7:28)
Introducing a Lean Condition (10:44)
Live Data on Newer Sensors (12:00)
Replacing O2 Sensors (14:36)
Outro (18:02)

[littleand]

You guys a living legend’s because you teach us how to try and fix it our self with equipment we can afford (Bluetooth OBD2) and not a $5000 scan tool. I’m having trouble somewhere in the catalyst system and only have very limited funds. THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO

[damianshaw]

After literately hours and hours and hours of reading and watching videos this video really helped me to make sense of how to actually read live data thank you guys

[Tony-jvpr]

Wow, I'm so happy, I purchase Blue Driver. Great video, I feel like a expert from watching. Well put together video. ❤️

[d.l.horton]

Relax guys. I like my Bluedriver and would still recommend it to anyone. I've had mine for about 5 years.

[jeffmcdonald]

I Wasted so much time before I found this video well done guys, extremely well presented too, before the O2 sensors on my car where some dark magic that seemed some how to hard to diagnose the errors and check engine light they keep throwing, now I feel confident to tackle the errors with out it just been guess work. Thank you

[motor]

I’ve had my BlueDriver for about 2 years and absolutely love it! Love the links to parts and videos.

[Evanturar]

Blue Driver videos are absolutely the best vids on the web. Well done!

[krazytaxicabbie]

Now I know how to read that live data. My #1 sensor needs a replacement.
Fantastic video. Thanks!

[TimmyMill]

It should be noted that you will want your crowsfoot-type O2 socket to be perpendicular to your torque wrench. Otherwise, the torque that you're applying will be different from the value that you set your wrench to. Also, if you're replacing an O2 sensor, they should already have anti-seize applied to them from the factory. And a final note – if you remove an O2 sensor just to inspect it and plan on reinstalling it, they have a crush gasket (washer).

[sparky]

If you're in the rust belt, heat up the exhaust pipe near the sensor before attempting removal.
I actually tore the o2 sensor housing clean off a 2002 yukon trying to remove bank 1 sensor 2.

[Burningquest]

Best Video i saw of this topic so far. thx guys

[drjimjam]

Just a superb video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such an understandable format.

[jeffreysmith]

Thank guys for such a great instructional video, helped a lot for my DYI diagnostics!

[friguy]

Excellent information and teaching! Thank you for the great video! One little thing I am laughing about to myself as I watch the video is that for the sake of the viewer (Me lol) you've chosen a car with an O2 sensor right up front where it's the easiest thing to see, find, work on and possibly change out if needed. I want people to know though that almost all (obviously there are a few that are easy) are VERY difficult to find, reach and work on. 16:08 "This sensor is proving to be pretty easy to remove". Wow he sure said that right LOL. They are being VERY polite and smooth. In the real world 95% of the sensors you will have to remove will "prove to be" lol. Al LOT more difficult to remove. A LOT, LOT more difficult. They are so often only accessible from underneath the car and sometimes only through the wheel well or some other strange place very difficult to reach. Sorry for telling the bad news. But the facts are always better to know up front then finding out later when you're in the thick of it. Thanks again for the great video!

[rihovaher]

Hello ! I took my hyndai getz 2008 1.4 petrol .no. 1 lamb from the sensor before the catalyst, diagnostics showed a non-existent very low signal due to which the engine worked very stiffly and you could feel the vibration. I put a new lambda sensor original bosch and checked it with the diagnostic device on the engine running in 71.. .730 Ma was the rapidly changing amplitude of the signal. Although I'm not a professional car mechanic, I managed it, as they say a man from the forest fixed the car, good luck to all DIYers!

[jairodiaz]

Wow, very clear and helpful to see different scenarios. Thank you so much for this video!

[georgeh]

Good info guys, old style O2 sensor waveforms is just what I was looking for. Thanks

[AaronWalske]

I got one of those bluetooth obd2 scanners. Love it.

[abodspeed]

A question for the masters, I have a 2013 M37 Infiniti, code P0151 showed up (O2 Circuit Low voltage) Bank 2 sensor 1, I went ahead and I replaced the sensor, 40 miles goes by and now I have the same code showed up again + P0131 and after resetting the codes now am getting a new code, which is P1168 in addition to the other 2 codes, please let me know if you can help resolve this issue, thank you.

[Danilo]

Excellent information. Thank you very much.