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Kearny Mesa Volkswagen can help you identify the signs of a broken O2 sensor.
There are many unique sensors a car utilizes on an everyday basis, perhaps one of the more important ones is the oxygen sensor, which is required for a vehicle to perform at its very best. With all of the exhaust fumes a car creates, your car will need to be aware of the O2 levels produced in the exhaust gases. The O2 sensor plays an important role in tracking a vehicle’s O2 amount to make sure the engine is efficiently burning its fuel. A functional O2 sensor will be an important component of a consistent running car. Still, a bad O2 sensor can probably lead to bad smells from your vehicle, bad fuel efficiency, and tamper with your engine’s performance ability. Here you’ll learn about symptoms to watch out for while using your car that can be telltale signs of a poorly-working O2 sensor.
Whenever you’re driving on the highway and smell anything rotten out of your vehicle, this could be a quick sign that the O2 sensor is failing. If you start to pick up on any negative differences from bad engine performance, loud noises, or engine misfires, this can be a clear result of your oxygen sensor potentially having problems. One of the most devastating things that may be a result of a bad O2 sensor is a catalytic converter failing without warning, which could put a big dent in your wallet.
Like many different parts of a car, O2 sensors can wear down after lots of usage and begin to go bad. But if you aren’t paying attention, a failed O2 sensor could begin to show major issues throughout your car. A build-up of contaminated coolant or oil ash could cause an oxygen sensor to fail, so a selection of oil or gasoline is incredibly essential. Because of its location in a car, it’s important that you bring your car to our professional mechanics to have it looked at or get an OEM oxygen sensor replacement.
We advise not driving with a failed O2 sensor as the engine is not running on the correct fuel mixture. While it might seem fine, if the powertrain is running rich and using too much fuel it might end up clogging the catalytic converter. Looking at the possible cost to replace O2 sensors is much less than purchasing a brand-new catalytic converter, it’s better to make the decision earlier. Also, if your vehicle has over 60,000 miles on the road or is more than 15 years old you might want to think about replacing your oxygen sensors for lower pollution and optimal performance.
Kearny Mesa Volkswagen is an ideal place to get vehicle service in the San Diego area. We happily service all vehicle makes and models. One of our factory-trained technicians will inspect your car or truck to determine if there are any needed repairs and will suggest the best resolution for you and your vehicle. Schedule your car or SUV service online or in person today.
