O2 Issues... Please Help!
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Sault Saint Marie, Michigan
O2 Issues... Please Help!
I have a second gen. dodge ram 318 with straight pipes. My upstream and downstream O2 sensors are installed in order within just the pipe. The truck will idle and run fine until reaching OT where the engine will begin to bog down and chug to where I'm unable to accelerate past 30mph. The exaust smells rich as well, which i realize is a result of faulty O2 readings. Now aside from re-installing my cats would a downstream O2 simulator potentially solve my problem?
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Sioux Falls, SD
Welcome to DF.
You need a new front O2 sensor, maybe. There may be other issues besides oxygen sensors. The rear sensor will give you a CEL if/when it detects the cat is faulty (or not there), it does nothing else, it serves no other function.
Putting an O2 sim on the front will, at best, keep your problem the same, at worse, make the problem worse. The truck needs those front readings to accurately give you a good A/F ratio.
Are you sure you took off the converter and not just the muffler? The problem you are describing is almost the exact symptoms of a clogged catalytic converter, or something else blocking your exhaust system.
You need a new front O2 sensor, maybe. There may be other issues besides oxygen sensors. The rear sensor will give you a CEL if/when it detects the cat is faulty (or not there), it does nothing else, it serves no other function.
Putting an O2 sim on the front will, at best, keep your problem the same, at worse, make the problem worse. The truck needs those front readings to accurately give you a good A/F ratio.
Are you sure you took off the converter and not just the muffler? The problem you are describing is almost the exact symptoms of a clogged catalytic converter, or something else blocking your exhaust system.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Sault Saint Marie, Michigan
Haha, I'm positive it was the cat I removed, I wasn't that far in the bag. I removed the entire exhaust system today and installed a new catback package from jegs. I've left the rear O2 sensor unhooked and un-attached and will most likely rig a sim on there to get rid of the idiot light. As for the front O2, im in dire need of a new y pipe but i'll change it out this week anyway. Theres also another symptom other than the occasional bogging. I drove no more than 20 miles around town today and used over 1/2 tank of fuel. Is the even worse than normal fuel economy related to the O2 you think?
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Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Sault Saint Marie, Michigan
Thats a definate probability, I just replaced the plenum last summer but it couldn't hurt to replace it again and take a look around in there while im at it. Any thoughts on that plenum re-enforcement kit from Hughes?
