Performance problems again!
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Performance problems again!
Greetings all.....
About 1 year ago I replaced both oxygen sensors (Bosch/Autozone) on my 1992 Ranger XLT/3.0 V6/2wd/5 spd man tranny/120k miles/original owner, and the results at the time were nothing short of miraculous. After putting up with poor performance for approx 4 years, It stopped idling rough; had a much healthier sounding idle; pinging problem all but disappeard; had more power; mileage increased slightly; idle did not stick at 1000 rpm after starting cold; but about 4 months later, it all started to revert back to it's old ways and now it's as bad as it ever was. Prior to changing the O2 sensors I was told by mechanics to buy a higher grade of gas to fix pinging problem and I believed them UNTIL I changed the sensors and realized they were wrong.
My question is: is it common for O2 sensors to go bad in that short a period of time, or could it be something else. Since all other sensors on the engine are the originals, I'm guessing that it may be one of them, or someone suggested that a bad catalytic converter could contaminate the O2 sensors...I still have the original catalytic convertor on the truck...could this be the culprit?
Thanks for the help,
XLTDAWG
About 1 year ago I replaced both oxygen sensors (Bosch/Autozone) on my 1992 Ranger XLT/3.0 V6/2wd/5 spd man tranny/120k miles/original owner, and the results at the time were nothing short of miraculous. After putting up with poor performance for approx 4 years, It stopped idling rough; had a much healthier sounding idle; pinging problem all but disappeard; had more power; mileage increased slightly; idle did not stick at 1000 rpm after starting cold; but about 4 months later, it all started to revert back to it's old ways and now it's as bad as it ever was. Prior to changing the O2 sensors I was told by mechanics to buy a higher grade of gas to fix pinging problem and I believed them UNTIL I changed the sensors and realized they were wrong.
My question is: is it common for O2 sensors to go bad in that short a period of time, or could it be something else. Since all other sensors on the engine are the originals, I'm guessing that it may be one of them, or someone suggested that a bad catalytic converter could contaminate the O2 sensors...I still have the original catalytic convertor on the truck...could this be the culprit?
Thanks for the help,
XLTDAWG
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Eastern WA
Well, I've been told more than once by Ford techs that they are generally a life of vehicle component if they are HEGO. Yet, I've heard people with stories like yours and the postive results too. Not sure what to make of it other than it's a shot in the dark that sometimes helps, even when there is no hard proof (codes, pinpoint test) to justify it. They ain't cheap either.
In your case, no, an O2 sensor should not go bad in a year, but of course weird stuff like a part failure can happen. Bad cat causing a O2 sensor failure? I've never heard of such a thing and I don't buy that one. As for cat life, my 'ol 94 with the 4.0 passed emissions with flying colors; 182,000 on the clock and original O2 sensors and cat. I'm seening many cars pass emissions with 150K on the clock; I think a cat on a FI engine may be good for 200K and maybe more if there is no vehicle history of a problem that caused it to run rich and such problem was ignored for a prolonged period.
I think in your case, I would begin by checking for any stored codes first. Also, just for grins, what was the warranty on that O2 sensor? Could always just go "trade it in" and claim it was bad.
In your case, no, an O2 sensor should not go bad in a year, but of course weird stuff like a part failure can happen. Bad cat causing a O2 sensor failure? I've never heard of such a thing and I don't buy that one. As for cat life, my 'ol 94 with the 4.0 passed emissions with flying colors; 182,000 on the clock and original O2 sensors and cat. I'm seening many cars pass emissions with 150K on the clock; I think a cat on a FI engine may be good for 200K and maybe more if there is no vehicle history of a problem that caused it to run rich and such problem was ignored for a prolonged period.
I think in your case, I would begin by checking for any stored codes first. Also, just for grins, what was the warranty on that O2 sensor? Could always just go "trade it in" and claim it was bad.
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Apr 30, 2005 at 03:49 PM.
Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
As Billy advises, you should pull the codes, you don't even need a scanner for your EEC-IV system, you can use a jumper wire and watch the CEL blink:
http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13
It may take a few times through to get the hang of it, but once you do it's pretty straightforward.
Post the codes here after you nail them down and we'll go from there.
http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=13
It may take a few times through to get the hang of it, but once you do it's pretty straightforward.
Post the codes here after you nail them down and we'll go from there.
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sorry for waiting so long to respond, but I went to Autozone for them to read the codes, and was told they only do 1997 on up. Where on my vehicle is the plug where I can jump the contacts? I've seen a plug under the hood that looks like the one, but can't seem to locate one in the cab under the dash.
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