Ok i have only had my dodge dakota (2001, V8, automatic) for a month now. The o2 sensor went out and I had a friend replace it with a universal. The next day my check gauges light started flashing , by flashing i mean it comes on for a few seconds then goes off for a few minutes. I am not good with vehicles and really have no idea if the two are realated or if its a new problem. All my gauges read normal and have not changed. I am very broke and can not afford to take it in . Please any help would be great!
thank you,

 

first off check if its throwing any codes by cycling the key to the on position, then off 3 times, on the 3rd time keep it on the ON and look at the odometer. there it will display any codes.....then get back to us

any problems with drivability or crappy mpg?

 

How did you know it was an O2 sensor that needed to be replaced? Generic or not should be the same I think. But I wonder if the code needs to be cleared from the computer.

 

If the truck was OK before the friend put in the universal O2, I wonder if he/she didn't wire it wrong and it is causing the check gauge light to freak out? You really can't trust a universal or generic O2 to work right. It is always best to use either an OEM O2 sensor from Dodge or order online from NGK. NGK is the OEM supplier for Dodge O2's anyway and NGK is about 1/3 the price of a Dodge O2 sensor.

I would reinstall and plug the old O2 back in, do a hard reset on the PCM and see if the check gauges light works correctly (stays off) after that. If the CEL comes back on for a bad O2 sensor, then at least you would know the generic O2 and/or the wiring for it caused the problem with the check gauges light.

Jimmy

 

I used a $26 Bosch OEM direct replacement O2 sensor to replace mine. It had the exact plug needed to connect to the wiring harness. i.e. Not universal.

**Edit** by the way, it was from advance auto parts