Re: Oxygen sensor and wiring

[T Berk <tberk@mindspring.com>]

Ian wrote:
> 
> Yesterday I tried to make sure my Ecode parking lights worked so I
> disconnected my Oxygen sensor and hooked them up to that (as a temporary
> power source) and grounded them to the battery, nothing came on. Isn't the
> oxygen sensor live when the ignition is turned on and stays live until you
> turn the engine off?
> Maybe this is the reason for my bad mileage, even though I replaced the
> sensor (for the first time at 92,000 miles) its just not getting any juice?
> 
> Ian

(got a step brother named) Ian,

By a chemical process that is due to it being very hot (explaining why
sensors farther downstream are heated) the platinum in the O2 sensor
will generate a small amount of voltage, it is not sent a good 12 volts
like you might have thought.

This is why if WD40 or other crappy stuff were to get in your gas it
will harm the O2, 'cause it will produce sulfurous and who knows what
other kinds of compounds that clog up the reactive metal in the thing.

hth,
TBerk

PS- When test jumpering it would behoove you to create a test lead w/
say an alligator clip on one end, an inline fuse right at that same end,
and a probe or clip on the other end.

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