I have just spent CAN$550 to replace a catalyst converter at one end of the muffler. The repairman said I need to replace the oxygen sensor very soon, otherwise, the C.C. will be gone again. Is that true... can someone confirm this for me. Thanks.
With a four cylinder engine, the code definition should have read: B1S1 (for the upstream sensor responsible for fuel/air ratio monitoring) or B1S2 (for the sensor downstream of the catalytic converter, which only monitors that part). If you changed the front (S1) sensor and you still have a code for it, save your old sensor as there may be nothing wrong with it. If the code is for the O2 sensor heater, check your fuses. If not, the code is probably a symptom of another problem, such as a misfire, restricted fuel filter or intake air leak. Is this the same code you got previously? Did you install a direct-fit replacement or a universal sensor that had to be configured for your honda's wiring connector?
ok its not catalyst converter its catalytic converter. next i have not read one answer that is correct a couple are close but no cigar. ok the 02 sensor senses the oxygen content in the exhaust gasses. using the oxygen content it can determine if the engine is running to rich or to lean. the ecm (computer) wants to keep the engine at optimum fuel mileage or keep it stoichometric meaning fuel to air ratio of 14.7:1 the ecm can adjust fuel air ratios by changing the pulse width and the duty cycle or on off time of the injector.it also uses several other sensors to help it like intake air temp (iat) coolant temp (cts) mass air readings if equipped (MAF) or manifold absolute pressure (map) so its not just the oxygen sensor it can make adjustments as need. anyways the oxygen sensor uses a .1 to .9 volt range signal anything below .450 is lean anything above .450 is rich and .4 to .5 is perfect. but ur engine constantly changes and the 02 readings change constantly new cars can take readings as fast as one or two times a second older cars are alittle slower. anyways only replace the 02 sensor if the car is telling u its bad meaning u have a check engine light on and a code that says P 0 . . . bank one sensor one ckt malfunction or bank 2 sensor 1 ckt malfunction u get the idea unless that happens ur 02's are good leave them alone. when they do go bad ur car will run rich and puke alittle black smoke out the exhaust and ur car will smell like rotten eggs. NOW the cat its job is to heat up to 600 + degreees F and burn unburnt fuel from the combustion cycle of the engine when an engine does not burn all its fuel its running rich and bad fuel milage occurs. if the 02 sensor goes out it can heat the cat red hot as the extra fuel being burnt inside it can become extremely hot. most 02 sensor for most vehicles run around 60 bucks not expensive. a car can have 1 to 4 of these and YES if bad and left for too long and can ruin a cat converter.
The oxygen sensor senses whether the exhaust coming out of the engine is clean of emissions gasses. It can also alter the air-fuel mixture in the engine to run leaner or richer. And yes, it's always a good idea to change the oxygen sensor when changing the c.c. because it can damage the c.c or other components in your engine.
your O2 sensor measures the amount of oxygen remaining in the exhaust gas after the combustion process. The left over oxygen reacts with the sensor to send an electrical signal to your vehicles computer. the computer can then adjust your fuel injector pulse width in order to maintain the proper 14.7:1 air/fuel ratio. Excessive exhaust gases are the usual culprit when catalatyc converters fail. Even so the O2 sensor is usually fairly cheap ($20-$30) and simple to replace. I would replace it as cheap insurance
The oxygen sensor is a sensor that reads between 1-5v. The computer uses the feedback response from the oxygen sensor, to let it know how much fuel should be introduced into the engine,and then compares the oxygen sensors voltage to a predetermined set prgram in the computer. If the signal from the oxygen sensor is out of the range of the computers program. The computer kicks on the service engine soon lite. Too much gas will cause the cat to overheat and ruin it. Change the sensor as soon as possible.
