How do you know if o2 sensor is bad?

Answer 1

These days most garages/ dealers plug in a diagnostic computer which tells you theres a problem with the O2 sensor. Without checking physically yourself this is the only way. A dodgy O2 sensor can damage your catalytic convertor, which could work out very costly to replace. If you think theres a problem with your O2 sensor I'd get it checked sooner rather than later.

Answer 2

Best way is to hook up an osiliscope and see the wave pattern Some of the scanners will do this also. Check the price of a new DIRECT FIT sensor first before getting this done as most shops charge for the diagnostic time and if you know which sensor is suspect it might just be cheaper to just change it and be done with it. If you don't know for sure TEST DON'T GUESS, you can spend a lot of money guessing at fixes...

Answer 3

If you have a bad cat (aka clogged catalyic converter) you engine will idle roughly, smell like unburn gas at the intake (carb/throttle body/ intake) your engine will sound more muffled then usual. the easiest way ive found to see if a catalyic converter is clogged is to simply cut it off with a sawzaw or hacksaw, and hold it up to the light. if it is clogged, then it will aprear so. their are two oppions to choose from at this point. one is legal on is not so much. 1- buy a new catalytic converter. 2- take the old one off, and put some sort of long hammerable object into it, a peice of rebar or tpost should work, and beat on it with a hammer until you've brooken up all the platinum honey comb inside the cat up enough to shake it out. once that is done reatach it to ur exhaust so you can pass an inspection test. note- if the county you live in does an emmisions test, the second method will result in failed inspection test

If you have something to read surface temperature, the exhaust pipe on healthy catalytic converter will be hotter out the back of the cat than it is before the cat.

Answer 4

how do i know if the o2 sensor is bad.

The check engine light would illuminate and the code(s) set would steer you to the faulty O2 sensor.

Answer 5

reading codes will tell you which one is bad.

Answer 6

Assuming you mean O2 sensors, when a O2 sensor fails the check engine light will illuminate. The code set will lead you to which O2 sensor is At Fault.

Answer 7

The check engine light will illuminate and set a code referring to which O2 sensor is at fault.