Did you know that your car has an oxygen sensor? It’s also called an O2 sensor and it’s technically part of the exhaust system. The main role of the oxygen sensor is to track and report oxygen levels in the exhaust so that your car’s computer can adjust the air and fuel mixture. Auto Repair Technology has this information for you about what you’ll notice with a failing oxygen sensor.
Your Gas Mileage Is Sinking
Gas mileage is the “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to noticing problems with your car. There are several problems that can contribute to poor gas mileage, though. If you’re noticing some of these other problems along with lower than usual gas mileage, it’s worth investigating problems with your car’s oxygen sensor.
The Exhaust Is Pretty Gross
Your car’s exhaust isn’t exactly the prettiest perfume ever, but if you’re noticing that it’s extra smelly that can be a sign of a problem. Part of what the oxygen sensor does is to monitor the oxygen levels in your car’s exhaust. That helps the onboard computer calculate air and fuel ratios to properly run the engine. If the oxygen sensor isn’t working, the computer is working blind and calculations for air and fuel are bound to be way off.
You’re Hearing Some Misfiring and Other Noises
So, if the air to fuel ratio is off balance, that doesn’t just give your car stinky exhaust. It creates problems that cause the stinky exhaust. You might hear your car’s engine misfiring or hear knocks and pings that you normally don’t hear. These are your indications that combustion is not happening correctly in the engine and eventually that can lead to serious engine damage.
There’s a Check Engine Warning Light On
Your car’s last resort when it comes to letting you know that there’s something significant going on is to show you the check engine warning light on the dashboard. Ignoring this light is always a bad idea, but just having the light come on does not mean that you’re automatically looking at a huge, catastrophic repair. In this case, the car is letting you know that the problems with the oxygen sensor can damage the engine.
Need help with your car’s oxygen sensor? Give us a call at Auto Repair Technology in Brook Park, OH. We can run diagnostic testing to find out exactly what’s happening and get you the information you need to get your car running safely again.
