Maxwell Ford can help you identify what the symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor are.
With all the unique sensors your vehicle utilizes daily, perhaps one of the more vital sensors is the O2 sensor, which is needed for a car to drive at its top-notch capability. With all of the exhaust gases a car creates, it’s important to have something that knows the O2 levels in the exhaust gases. The sensor has an important part to play in keeping track of a vehicle’s O2 amount to make sure the engine is efficiently burning its fuel. A functional oxygen sensor can be an essential cog for a consistent running car. Still, a poor oxygen sensor can most likely cause poor fuel economy, bad smells in your vehicle, and a poorly performing powertrain. Here you’ll learn more about things to look out for when using your vehicle that can be easy-to-see signs of a failed oxygen sensor.
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Whenever you’re ever driving on the highway and smell something rotten out of your car, that can be a crucial sign that your O2 sensor is failing. If you ever begin to keep track of any changes like bad powertrain performance, loud noises, or misfires, this could be a clear result of your oxygen sensor potentially having issues. One of the most devastating things that could be can be caused by a failed oxygen sensor is a catalytic converter failing without warning, which could be a headache to deal with.
Like many other components of a car, oxygen sensors could break down over time and start to go bad. But if you aren’t paying attention, a bad O2 sensor could lead to huge problems all over your vehicle. A build-up of contaminated oil ash or coolant can cause an O2 sensor to fail, so a selection of oil or fuel is incredibly important. Because of its location in a car, it’s important that you visit our professional mechanics to get it looked at or hooked up with an OEM O2 sensor replacement.
We recommend not driving with a bad oxygen sensor as the powertrain isn’t running on the correct fuel mixture. Though it may seem fine, if the powertrain is running rich and over-using its fuel it could start to clog the catalytic converter. Considering the price of getting new oxygen sensors is much less than buying a catalytic converter, it’s better to make this decision now. Also, if your vehicle has over 60,000 miles or is more than 15 years old you might want to consider getting new O2 sensors for lower pollution and optimal engine performance.
Maxwell Ford is an ideal place to get vehicle service in the Austin area. We happily service all vehicle makes and models. One of our factory-trained technicians will inspect your car or truck to determine if there are any needed repairs and will suggest the best resolution for you and your vehicle. Schedule your car, truck, SUV, or van service online or in person today.
