I'm getting a low voltage O2 sensor code, and was wondering if I need to clean the O2 sensor, or does it need replacement? If I can clean it, what can I clean it with? Thanks.

 

How many miles do you have on the car? I believe around 60-80K miles needs replacement. Those things are expensive as heck. I cleaned the O2's with brake cleaner or some T-Body Spray and wipe them off.

 

Is it really safe to spray it with those chemicals? You're right tho, those O2 sensors are very very expensive! Went to the dealer, they quoted me 250! Anyone else have any suggestions? Thanks!

 

I think I posted this before a few months ago, so I will give it another go.

Sometimes you can reactivate these sensors, most times it wont. So if you try this, go in with the assumption you are buying a new one.

Keep the chemicals off the sensor.

Take it out and jury rig a way to power the heater. Let the heater be on for about a minute. Now take a bernz-o-matic type propane torch and start to "roast" the tip like a pig on a spit. Play the cool part of the flame over the protective tip and keep turning. Move in towards the blue tip, then away. Play the flame around and around. You can get the protective shroud to glow a bit. The max temp for the tip is typically 950 degrees C. You want to go right near that temp. You are attempting to oxidize any crud that may be blocking the porous platinum electrodes that are on either side of the YSZ (yttria-stabilized-zirconia) thimble.

For the most part the bern-o-matic flame is rich between the brass nozzle and the blue tip inner flame, near stoic at the blue tip and lean beyond.

Roast your sensor for about a minute at a time always turning it.

At the end of the minute hook up a high impediance digital voltmeter to the sense cell. Now go back with your torch. If you made it recover you should be able to get it to switch (Go above and below 0.45 volts.) by putting the sensor in the lean and then rich zone of the bernz-o-matic.

If not successful roast it again. ... after about 3 roasts give it up and buy a new one.

Regards,
BigMoose

 

Thanks! I'll try anything to save 500 bucks!

 

Replace it.