Bad Oxygen Sensor Symptoms - 8 Faulty Oxygen Sensor Signs

The oxygen sensors in your car are probably something you don't give much thought to until the problems occur. However, did you know that a defective oxygen sensor could affect your car's performance and even reduce its fuel efficiency?
I'll go over some bad o2 sensor symptoms in this quick video so you can understand what's happening. I'll also tell you how much it typically cost to replace this device at the end of this video.

Timecode:
Intro - 00:00:00
Check Engine Light Illuminates - 00:00:31
Rough Idle - 00:01:12
Poor Motor Performance - 00:01:35
Decreased Fuel Economy - 00:02:01
Stalling Engine - 00:02:20
Failed Emissions Test - 00:02:38
Strange Sounds - 00:02:59
Catalytic Converter Failure - 00:03:25
Oxygen Sensor Replacement Cost - 00:03:50

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[Spaethon]

I replaced my oxygen sensors this week. My car has 230, 000 miles and the previous owner never replaced them. Turns out, they were both broken and for God knows how long. My car began running rough and backfiring, and once at a stop, would not move an inch, but idled perfectly fine. My guess, carbon built up everywhere it could and now I'm replacing just about everything I can think of.
I got underneath my car and tried like hell to break them loose with no success. Breaker bars, O2 sensor kit from autozone, no dice. So I went to my neighborhood mechanic just to have the bolts loosened and it set me back $35. Took her back home and replaced the oxygen sensors ($20 each).
Don't forget! There are two different types of o2 sensors, the Upstream O2 sensor (before catalytic converter) and downstream O2 sensor (behind the catalytic converter). You can't use the same oxygen sensor for both positions. Also, don't forget to reset your car's computer after changing dirty or broken sensors, especially if your CEL came on.
If you're catalytic converter is toast and you have a cheap car in an area with no emissions tests, you can buy an O2 sensor adapter that will "trick" your computer into thinking the catalytic converter is there and fine. They sell these adapters on walmart. com for 10 bucks, and with great reviews.
Anyway, I've done a ton of work to my car in the past couple weeks, trying to get to the root of my intermittent mechanical issue, and keeping my fingers crossed that I fixed her. Tomorrow I'm resetting her computer and taking her out for the big drive. Wish me luck! :)

[wucwug]

Very informative and well narrated video. thank you!

[firosfazil]

I have the same issue on my ford explorer. I have changed the catalytic convertor and the two oxogen sensor and fixed the issue. The next day again come the check engine light. Then i realize and watch the youtube videos. Many of them are suggesting to put fuel injector and yesterday i put fuel injector including the full tank petrol. Fortunately it is success today and the check engine light has been disappear.

[reggiehowze]

Thanks. Getting ready to place downstream. Hard starts.

[sakariasixa]

I have a polo 2014 model
It keep’s misfiring
I changed the timing chain and made a service but it’s still misfiring

[El-Armstrong]

Can these sensors go out at 30k miles? Or more likely that something that caused it to? My cars eml is p0138 but runs fine. And strangely getting better mpg

[anthonydtx]

This was very helpful thank youu for sharing your experience

[gaborlevenda]

Hi there, hope you are doing well sir
I would have a question about my car if you could help me out.
I was just wondering. MOT has been done to my care which is a Ford fiesta, before the MOT the noise level was high in the car, its consumption was also high and it's felt like it doesn't have much power in it. after running a test on its computer to find any problems with the car, everything was fine. oil has been changed, oil filter and also Air filter was changed, last year spark plugs were changed, catalytic converter, oxygen sensor and they reset the on board computer. The engine ran very nicely without effort, very quietly, very quickly and its fuel consumption was perfect no noise whatsoever. The yellow engine error light came on when we were traveling, the noise level increased, the consumption also increased, the performance decreased. now I don't know what to do... any suggestions please

[waynegenius]

I get P0172 today and when i scan the car it say bank 1 system too rich. What could be the cause of that?

[mihringfanu]

I have santro xing car.when i drove about 3km and when i turn it off the engine . as soon as i try to start at the same minute i could not start the car it doesnt take the start so pls help me

[MARTRELL]

Hands Down this was the Best Overview of o2Sensors EVER!!!

[urmaswu]

Hi.I have w140 S320 96y and O² sensor wont work correctly, its on ON few sec and then its shut down/OFF
Do i need to replace O² sensor?
There is many different sensors in the market, witch one i need do buy?

[cosmin]

on obd2 O2 1 makes waves and lambda O2 looks like a ladder. It's ok?

[fenf]

I have exactly problem like you said, problem on performance and idling.. need to service my o2 sensor

[laliux]

Hello, Maybe you can help me with a question. The apologies of the case for my English, it is not my native language. I have a motorcycle and since it is already hot and idling the scanner shows a voltage in the oxygen sensor (it is a single wire) of between .8 and .9 which drops to between .1 and .5 when the motorcycle accelerated it also marks the change from open loop in idling to closed loop in acceleration. Is this normal?

[tn_wicked]

Could this cause a cylinder 6 misfire I’ve checked spark plugs coil packs injectors and everything is fine I even replaced my camshaft sensor and crankshaft sensor it doesn’t idle as badly as it did but the check engine light flashes could the o2 sensor cause this.

[robjordan]

I have a code reading P0060, is this the same issue. When I googled it, it says bad 02 sensor. You didn't mention that when you ran down the code numbers, I didn't hear P0060....

[everythingtech]

great, informative video, I wonder if you come across this strange problem engine 651 2.1 L (P02A7=cylinder4 fuel trim at min ) from the code you would think injector problem but sadly that was not the case, I swapped inj4 with inj1 and still the same problem P02A7, went toward vacuum and checked all vacuum parts (intake manifold /vacuum resonator/turbo actuator/transducers/vacuum hoses) with no sign of vacuum leaks at all, in fact the system holding 15inch vacuum with no problem at a all, in regards to injectors tested with injector leak test all four injectors are leaking the same amount of fuel so I can't fault them, engine idling is fine / drive fine the only thing is if you cleared that code, you will get the full power of the engine I mean the turbo will be working as it should be until you drive in steady speed like 65miles/hour for 10 to 15 minutes as soon as you take your foot off gas pedal the check light will be trigrad and you will start loosing power specially up hill, the only suspect left for me is o2 sensor, I haven't replaced it yet, but when I disconnected no check engine light show up as if its connected, but am thinking that could be the o2 sensor is faulty thats why when the engine on that steady speed and by the time I let off the gas pedal, the ECU request the oxygen from the o2 sensor and most likely the wrong values from the o2 sensor is the suspect what do you think ? your help is appreciated

[wadud]

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[SLCETUP]

Hi would a bad o2 sensor triger other codes