I’m not sure if I should get a full diagnostic or if I should just replace a part
I recently went to Pep Boys because my service engine soon light turned on. They gave me a free scan and it came back "P0012" which is the camshaft position timing sensor. Knowing this, do you think I still need a full diagnostic or do you believe I could just go straight into replacing the part. I would prefer to not pay the extra $80 for a diagnostic if it is not necessary.
My car has 124000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Any time the check engine light comes on the code that is stored is only a tool at finding the problem or cause of the check engine light. You should have the diagnostic pinpoint test done for the code you got for the camshaft sensor issue. The test will verify you do not have a wiring or mechanical issue causing the problem and not the sensor causing the problem. In the end it may still be a sensor issue and replacing the sensor in the first place would have fixed it.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Do I need to replace all of the sensors at once? It is best to replace O2 sensors in pairs. For example, if you replace the downstream left sensor, you should also replace the downstream right.
Poor Engine Performance
You bet. Moreover, you may also notice poor acceleration, engine misfires, and even stalling. Bad oxygen sensors disrupt all kinds of essential engine functions, including engine timing, combustion intervals, and air-fuel ratio.
Depending on the engine design, vehicles can have multiple oxygen sensors, sometimes on both sides of the engine. Reading the trouble codes will tell you exactly which sensor is in need of replacing — either the upstream (top) or downstream (bottom) sensor — and on what bank (side) of the engine.
Your vehicle`s on-board diagnostic system is usually able to detect when one of the sensors is failing. This will result in your dashboard`s “Check Engine” light coming on. Many motorists simply ignore the “Check Engine” light and continue to drive since the vehicle keeps running.
Generally, oxygen (O2) sensors last about 30,000-to-50,000 miles if you have an older car. Newer sensors can go 100,000 miles before they need to be replaced.
A bad oxygen sensor could cause sluggish and rough driving with stalls, along with poor fuel efficiency and high pollution. And if you leave it there for several months, it may lead to serious problems in the engine and catalytic converter which cost thousands of dollars to fix or replace.
Your car has at least two sensors, and when one of them goes bad, you need to do something about it. Can you clean an oxygen sensor? No, despite what you might have heard or read, such sensors should be replaced when they become faulty.
Can I Drive My Car With A Bad Oxygen Sensor? We recommend against driving with a bad O2 sensor as the powertrain is not running on the correct fuel mixture. While it may perform fine in the beginning, if your engine is running rich and using too much fuel it might begin to clog the catalytic converter.
Why do O2 sensors fail? Since the oxygen sensor is in the exhaust stream, it can become contaminated. Common sources of contamination include an excessively rich fuel mixture condition or oil blow-by in an older engine and engine coolant being burnt in the combustion chamber as a result of an engine gasket leak.
Four common types of sensor faults: (a) bias, (b) drifting, (c) complete failure, and (d) precision degradation.
Calibration or aiming may need to be done after removal of the bumper cover, removal of the sensor, or an impact on or near the sensor. Most OEMs do not require a calibration but call for a system test after installation.
Summary. Whenever the check engine light is on, and you experience any symptoms, you should immediately take the vehicle to an auto shop and replace your sensor. Generally, a new sensor will last anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Drive safe and do your yearly maintenance!
NO, If your vehicle utilizes electronic engine controls (It wouldn`t have O2 sensors if it didn`t), these are necessary for the ECM to adjust the air/fuel ratio. Without them, the engine won`t run properly, fuel mileage will suffer, emissions will be uncontrolled, and the vehicle will fail emission testing.
If you`re ever riding on the highway and smell something harsh from your car, that could be a quick sign that your O2 sensor is failing. If you ever begin to pick up on some changes like bad powertrain performance, engine misfires, or loud noises, that could be a symptom of your O2 sensor probably having issues.
In addition, unplugged O2 sensors could cause damage to other parts of the system for emissions, including the catalytic converter, which could cost a lot to replace. In essence, it`s not advisable to disconnect the O2 sensor inside the vehicle.
The Mass airflow sensor or MAF is one of the most crucial sensors used in automobiles. The MAF sensor is located near the air filter and monitors how much air is flowing into the engine. If by a fault the working of this sensor fails, then you will notice that your vehicle will idle/stall or completely stop.
Most cars have at least two oxygen sensors located throughout the exhaust system; at least one in front of the catalytic converter and one or more downstream from the catalytic converter.
The tell-tale signs of a failing oxygen sensor include the engine misfiring or your vehicle running roughly or irregularly during idle. Additionally, there are other engine performance issues associated with a failing oxygen sensor such as stalling, hesitation, and loss of power.
Can I Drive My Car With A Bad Oxygen Sensor? We recommend against driving with a bad O2 sensor as the powertrain is not running on the correct fuel mixture. While it may perform fine in the beginning, if your engine is running rich and using too much fuel it might begin to clog the catalytic converter.
What Is The Life Expectancy Of An Oxygen Sensor? The life expectancy of an oxygen sensor is typically 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Even under normal operating conditions, oxygen sensors must endure a constant barrage of harm- ful exhaust gases, extreme heat and high velocity particulates.
A properly functioning oxygen sensor will show a rapidly fluctuating output voltage between approximately 0.1 and 1.0 volts. The time taken for the voltage to change from 0.1 V to 1.0 V (referred to as the lean to rich response time) should be about 300 milliseconds.
Can I Drive My Car With A Bad Oxygen Sensor? We recommend against driving with a bad O2 sensor as the powertrain is not running on the correct fuel mixture. While it may perform fine in the beginning, if your engine is running rich and using too much fuel it might begin to clog the catalytic converter.
If a pressure sensor fails, it can cause the entire control system to fail and lead to inoperable equipment or system down time; depending on the type of system, significant damage can occur to the equipment and surrounding environment.
If you suspect that your oxygen sensor may be dirty, you can clean it by first removing the sensor from its housing in the vehicle, and then soaking the sensor in gasoline overnight.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I’m not sure if I should get a full diagnostic or if I should just replace a part
ANSWER : Any time the check engine light comes on the code that is stored is only a tool at finding the problem or cause of the check engine light. You should have the diagnostic pinpoint test done for the code you got for the camshaft sensor issue. The test will verify you do not have a wiring or mechanical issue causing the problem and not the sensor causing the problem. In the end it may still be a sensor issue and replacing the sensor in the first place would have fixed it.
Do i need to replace the receiver drier and/or the expansion valve when replacing the condenser assembly?
ANSWER : Replacing the system drier is absolutely essential. If the system has been open to the atmosphere (due to the leak in the condenser), the desiccant in the drier has been fully saturated with moisture. As far as the expansion valve, replacement is not normally implicated in a leak repair, in your case a leak in the condenser. To justify replacing the expansion valve, there would have to have been a diagnostic performed which proved a fault. If no diagnostic was performed, and there is no evidence of a fault, then it is pointless to replace the valve. But, again, drier replacement is absolutely essential. To add the drier to your order, you can simply add a note to the mechanic in your order and/or add it as a service (you will see a link that you can click on to "add services" or write in specific services). If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
I’m getting power to distributor coil, but I’m not getting power to the spark plugs.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the spark plugs with a spark adapter tool to see if there is a park induced from the coil. If there is no spark, then the spark plug wires could be burned and need replaced. If the tool is getting spark, then the spark plugs need replaced. If you need further assistance with your ignition system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Need to replace bad spark plug & coil pack on Ford Expedition but not sure what else I need besides the plug and coil pack?
ANSWER : Hi There,
I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the vehicle to first determine what the cause of the misfire is if this has not already been done. Engine misfires can be caused by many different problems and are generally caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in some cases, a combination of both. Spark related problems generally will result from things like ignition coils, crankshaft position sensor, spark plugs, spark plug wires or ignition modules not working properly. When the misfire results from a fuel related issue, this is commonly related to a lean fuel condition (lack of sufficient fuel supply to the motor). Fuel related misfires can be caused by many different things such as low fuel pressure, faulty or dirty fuel injectors, a faulty O2 sensor, a dirty or failing mass air-flow sensor, a faulty or dirty idle air control valve or a vacuum or intake leak. When the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is insufficient, this results in an ignition (spark) that is igniting a less than balanced load of fuel and air. This results in a misfire or an explosion in the cylinder that is much less powerful than the other cylinders. This creates a loss of power that resonates throughout the motor additionally causing other problems with ignition and fuel timing. Due to the number of different things that may cause an engine misfire, the quickest and easiest way to diagnose this type of problem is to hook the vehicle up to a scanning tool which will download any potential fault codes that may have registered in the vehicle’s computer as a result of the poor running condition. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your misfiring problem.
I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the vehicle to first determine what the cause of the misfire is if this has not already been done. Engine misfires can be caused by many different problems and are generally caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in some cases, a combination of both. Spark related problems generally will result from things like ignition coils, crankshaft position sensor, spark plugs, spark plug wires or ignition modules not working properly. When the misfire results from a fuel related issue, this is commonly related to a lean fuel condition (lack of sufficient fuel supply to the motor). Fuel related misfires can be caused by many different things such as low fuel pressure, faulty or dirty fuel injectors, a faulty O2 sensor, a dirty or failing mass air-flow sensor, a faulty or dirty idle air control valve or a vacuum or intake leak. When the fuel supplied to the combustion chamber is insufficient, this results in an ignition (spark) that is igniting a less than balanced load of fuel and air. This results in a misfire or an explosion in the cylinder that is much less powerful than the other cylinders. This creates a loss of power that resonates throughout the motor additionally causing other problems with ignition and fuel timing. Due to the number of different things that may cause an engine misfire, the quickest and easiest way to diagnose this type of problem is to hook the vehicle up to a scanning tool which will download any potential fault codes that may have registered in the vehicle’s computer as a result of the poor running condition. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your misfiring problem.
I’m getting two ignition coils replaced on my 2007 Honda Fit and it will cost me 280 without labor. This sounds weird
ANSWER : Hi there. If your engine is stalling out on you and the shop has said that the issue is your ignition coils, try checking the coils and see if there is a spark coming out of them by removing the coil and putting a spark tester on it and checking for spark. If there is spark, then the ignition coils are working, but they could be weak. Adjust the spark tester to a gap of 60 and see if the spark is still emitting. If it does, then the ignition coils are good and the spark plugs maybe need replaced. If the engine is stalling out and there is spark but the coils are shutting down, then check the crankshaft position sensor to see if there is a loose contact or if the sensor is damaged. A crankshaft position sensor that is intermittently failing will cause the ignition coils to stop working at the time that the sensor is not working.
Before ruling out the ignition coils, be sure to check all the components of spark, air, and fuel with compression before having the coil replaced. Make sure that all of the sensors are functioning properly and that the engine oil is clean. If you need further assistance with your engine stalling out, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Check Engine light comes on, mechanic replaced o2 sensor but light still comes on.
ANSWER : Hi there:
If the mechanic completed the O2 sensor replacement, reset the codes and the error code was triggered again, it is possible that the catalytic converter is damaged and needs to be replaced. However, it’s also very common for the electrical harnesses that power these sensors to become frayed, damaged or faulty; which can also trigger the check engine light. It’s not advisable to drive a vehicle with a damaged catalytic converter for extended periods of time, as it can cause damage to internal engine components.
Clutch Replacement 2001 Ford Focus SE Manual Transmission
ANSWER : Hey there. You may need to have the flywheel resurfaced or replaced if it has cracks in it or it is warped. At the moment, we currently are not able to do these types of repairs unless the mechanic in your area has the capabilities and equipment to do so. However, if you would like to have the shifting problem diagnosed at your home or at the car’s location in order to verify the faulty components.
I put a cold air intake on my car I have replace the O2 sensor that is failing area code p0151 I’m not sure what to do mass is new
ANSWER : Hello. If the P0151 code persists after replacing the oxygen sensor, then it may be possible that the issue is with the wiring. If there is any damage or wear to the oxygen sensor connector or wiring there may be a compromise in the voltage, which can set off the light. I would carefully examine the wiring and connector for any signs of damage or wear. If the issue began only after installing the cold air intake, it may also be possible that the issue is related to the cold air intake. If you think that may be a possibility, I would try reinstalling the stock cold air intake to see if that may solve the issue. For in-depth help diagnosing the code, consider enlisting an expert from YourMechanic to come to your for an inspection.
