One of the first things that will happen when your oxygen (O2) sensor goes bad is the check engine light will come on. The engine control unit, which is your vehicle’s main computer chip, generally receives an O2 sensor error code and, as such, turns on the check engine light to alert you of a problem. A malfunctioning oxygen sensor will also cause the following additional issues.
Black Exhaust Smoke
Located in the tailpipe, the O2 sensor measures exhaust oxygen levels. It reports this information to the engine control unit. If the information is incorrect, the unit might increase the amount of gasoline in the combustion chamber and this will cause your vehicle to release black exhaust smoke.
Engine Hesitation/Surging
Your engine will also surge and buck if it is burning too much fuel. If the opposite occurs, i.e., there’s too much air in the chamber, your acceleration and engine performance will hesitate. You may press down on the accelerator but your engine will sputter and lag before it picks up speed. It will also sputter once you’ve reached a higher speed.
High Emissions Levels
If your vehicle fails an emissions test, it could be due to a faulty O2 sensor. When the engine is burning away excess fuel, this increases the hydrocarbons in your vehicle’s exhaust. Consequently, your vehicle is releasing excess emissions and, as a result, it will fail the emissions test. You will continue to have this problem until such time as you replace the bad oxygen sensor.
Poor Gas Mileage
You may also notice a significant difference in your gas mileage if the O2 sensor is malfunctioning. Again, whether there is too much or too little fuel in the combustion chamber, your engine is not running efficiently and, as a consequence, your fuel efficiency takes a hit. This can be frustrating if you are operating on a tight budget and cannot afford to head to the service station more frequently.
Rotten Egg Odors
Finally, if you notice the smell of rotten eggs coming out of your tailpipe or from the engine bay, it’s possible that the excess fuel and hydrocarbons in the exhaust have clogged your vehicle’s catalytic converter. Unfortunately, a malfunctioning O2 sensor can create the perfect condition to damage the catalytic converter.
Accurate Auto in Beaverton, Hillsboro, or Lake Oswego, OR, can help. Give us a call today so we can schedule an appointment for your automobile. We will make sure that your oxygen sensor is working as it should be. If it isn’t, we will replace it.