If this sensor is broken/damaged will it affect the performance of the engine? plus what is the proper name for this sensor? Thanks

 

no it will not affect the performance of the engine, it is for catalyst efficiency purposes.

If you were ordering a new one, ask for a Downstream o2 sensor.

 

On Spark Plugs.com:

Denso OE identical O2 sensor 234-4659 REAR $151.13 (with OEM Plug)

Denso Universal O2 sensor 234-4209 REAR Sale: $43.69 (Splice into OEM Plug)

 

Yes it can impact the performance!! You will throw codes and the ecu could go into limped mode. It will also adjust your air/fuel mix. You need to change your catalytic converter and determine why it failed otherwise you will keep going through 02 sensors.

 

i thought air/fuel mix was only determined through the primary O2 sensor...correct me if im wrong here. i have a test pipe with no secondary o2 sensor and i throw the cat inefficiency code but i have never gone into limp mode or affected my afr as far as i know

 

the ecu wont go into limp because of the downstream o2. it's only for catalyst efficiency and has nothing to do with the way the car runs.He clearly said the sensor was "broken/damaged" so why would he want to replace his cat? Don't give people advice if you don't know what your talking about!

 

Wrinkly you're OBD1 which is a lot different. My 00R was running too rich at one point which kept fouling plugs, and ruining both the catalytic converter and the 02. Car kept going into limped mode until I corrected the fuel problem. Tipe R, I make this suggestion from experience. If OP simply replaces the 02 when there is something fouling it, he could end up in a vicious cycle like I was where he's trying to troubleshoot the problem but going through costly 02's each time he makes a guess. I suspect he's asking this question because he's running too rich and not because he intends on running a test pipe.

 

I still don't quite get how your problem of going into limp mode due to a fuel issue in any way correlates to his problem of a broken downstream o2 sensor.

I will re-iterate that the downstream o2 sensor does NOT control air/fuel mixtures. It monitors catalyst efficiency ONLY. If the sensor is broken physically it will cause an o2 sensor code, not a p0420 which would be catalyst efficiency below threshold bank 1.

 

my 97 is actually obd2a and i don;t think there is that much difference between obd2a to obd2b....iirc

 

Hmm I thought 97's were OBD1. Well anyway, I was just offering my advice based on stuff I went through with my other car. Maybe I shouldn't have assumed that OP's 02 failed because of a rich condition even though 9 times out of 10 that's what causes them to fail. I'll shut up now as TipeR suggested because I don't know anything.

 

sorry man, ment no offense. A cat. converter is an expensive part to recommend based on very little info. Even if the o2 was fouled, a cat. can only really be condemmed by doing a precat and actually measureing the emmisions on both sides. Based on what DC2 specR has said, it sounds like his sensor is physically damaged so I dont think he has a fuel problem.

 

Guys thanks for the inputs i really appreciate it. Im currently running a Feels Test Pipe right now. The problem was the socket thats connecting the sensor to the wire inside the car is a little loose. Problem solved already