Hey guys I am in need of some help I have a 2000 Civic hatch with a OBD1 B16A2 installed in it and I am thinking that my O2 sensor is dead. The car feels like it is "bottled up", it bogs all of the time throughout the entire RPM range and pops and backfires occasionally. The odd part about it is that sometimes when holding the engine at a steady throttle position the car will kind of kick and take off as if there was no problem! When I had this engine in my 92 VX hatch it would occasionally do this, like maybe once or twice a week but now it is constant.

The reason I think that is the O2 sensor is because I searched on here and there are several other people that have had the same type of symptoms and usually the O2 is bad (but they are usually throwing codes).

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated

 

are you getting bad gas mileage?

 

It seems like I am I havent really paid much attention ,but now that you mention it I think the mileage per tank has gone down....Why?

 

There should be a code if your o2 sensor is gone. You say that you have a 2000 hatch so it was an OBD2 from the factory and it came with 2 o2 sensors. Since you swapped in an OBD1 B16A2, it only has one o2 sensor on the exhaust manifold or cat.
Was the stock '00 Civic ECU swapped out in favor of an OBD1 ECU for the B16A2?

 

If the o2 is "gone" (i.e. not putting out a signal) it will throw a code. But it can perform pretty poorly & the ECU will never know . . . . . How many miles are on the sensor?

I picked up a small amount of driveability & gas mileage when I replaced the primary one on my ~100k mile stock Prelude - and got rid of an annoying part throttle hesitation.

It's only like $60 for a universal 4-wire, worth a shot.

 

A bad o2 wont always throw a code. Also, stay away from universals. If you have to get a non OEM one, make sure its a car specific one, like a Bosch. Universals are a waste of time and money, IMO.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTEC-DA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A bad o2 wont always throw a code. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I've been thinking over your original question for a day or so before posting. I tend to agree with the above quote. I have seen drivability problems without a code, emissions problems without a code. Some sensors as they age, get sluggish. Not enough to set a code, but enough to give the ECM's "servo loop" routines a run for their money.

But when an O2 sensor "really" goes south, it typically does throw a code.

I am not convinced your problem as described is the O2 sensor.

As an aside, my wife's Buick kept throwing an O2 sensor code this week, and for 15 bucks, I just changed the blasted sensor. Wasn't the sensor, it was the darn ECM again, it was suppling a 3 volt bias to the unheated sensor instead of the 0.5 volt required. NAPA supplied my 2nd free ECM for that vehicle. So you can get an O2 code, and it be someting else also.

I'm really tired tonight, and not sure I'm thinking totally clearly though............ but thought I'd throw in my 2Cents.........

 

Just to throw something in, I had a dead o2 sensor, wasnt giving any signal at all, and it wasnt even throwing a code.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTEC-DA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also, stay away from universals. If you have to get a non OEM one, make sure its a car specific one, like a Bosch. Universals are a waste of time and money, IMO.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Why do you say that? I've never had a problem with them, or heard of anyone else who has.

They're the exact same sensors you get from the dealer, sans the wiring harness & $250 pricetag.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Daemione &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Why do you say that? I've never had a problem with them, or heard of anyone else who has.

They're the exact same sensors you get from the dealer, sans the wiring harness & $250 pricetag.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The o2 sensor and its wiring is a sensative circuit. Its just a better idea to get one that doesnt need cutting, splicing, soldering etc.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTEC-DA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The o2 sensor and its wiring is a sensative circuit. Its just a better idea to get one that doesnt need cutting, splicing, soldering etc. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I had to extend my wiring for the O2 sensor could that be part of my problem? If it is a very sensitive circuit is it possible I am getting a voltage drop from having to have the wires spliced?

Also I am running the OBD1 ECU with an adapter harness so it should only be looking for one O2 sensor.

So what is everyones opinion on factory and non factory O2 sensors? If I have to order one from Honda it will be more (obviously) and I will probably still have to modify it since the wires will not be long enough to plug in again.
To those that dont think its the O2, any ideas what else might make my car run this way?

Thanks for the replies guys

 

One other thing can the O2 work intermittently? I was only having the problem every once and a while but now the car just feels like a slug all of the time, really bad acceleration, occasional sputtering/ small backfires, etc.

 

Could someone also give me an idea of what kind of symptoms I could be having with a bad O2 sensor? Also is there a way to test an O2 (besides swapping it out with a new one)?

Thanks again guys

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EGCIV &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I had to extend my wiring for the O2 sensor could that be part of my problem? If it is a very sensitive circuit is it possible I am getting a voltage drop from having to have the wires spliced?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

As long as you did it correctly, you shouldnt have a problem. I also extended my o2 wiring, about 8 inches. I cut and spliced each individual wire then soldered it. Then taped each wire seperate and then all of them together and its working fine for me.

 

i'm having the same symptoms on a turbo rsx. the scan tool indicated the primary o2 sensor was dead. no cel but poor gas mileage and hesitation.

 

What is a "scan tool"? Sorry for the newbie question but I am not exactly sure what it is (assuming a Honda dealer diagonistic tool) or where I would go about getting one.

Is this something that I can go to my local dealer and have them use to "scan" my car for probs?

Any more suggestions guys?

 

yes it's a diagnostic tool if u know someone at honda they can do it for u. a cheap one costs about $150. the one's that dealerships have cost $500+. i just used an o2 sensor off of an insight and it worked for me. plugged right in, but i have an rsx. bottom line if u know a tech, have him/her check it with the tool. i didn't throw cel either but my o2 was fried.

 

O2 sensor is only one possible cause, there are several other also. IACV being clogged, TPS sensor, Throttle plate needing adjustment. ecu not running the car as expected, like if you're using a slightly different ecu for than the engine came with.

The quality of the 02 sensors signal can definitly degrade with time. it is a very small signal &lt;1 volt, and the signal wire is shielded to eliminate RF interferance/crosstalk, so splices can have a negative affect on it.

Best wishes with your setup!

-PHiZ