can the os's be cleaned or do they have to be replaced,my check engine light came on and it was saying that the one before the cat was getting too hot and the guy out at auto zone said it needed replacing---he says that they cant be cleaned and i also ask him if he thought maybe there was a problem like the cat stopping up causing it or something and he says no ,that the os just needed to be replaced--which cost about 65 bucks,any suggestions,thanks

 

Well I imagine O2s can be cleaned, but not positive.

Your cat could be malfunctioning, or something else. Something thats very funny often occurs. People ALWAYS forget that the O2 sensor actually does something.... 99.9% of the time when there an O2 sensor problem people replace them and don't remember that thay're there to sence something....

Like something that is malfunctioning...

But it is true that they do just go bad more often than not, the little plates on them can get covered in soot and they stop working. But go tell that guy at AutoZone that sensors are there to actually tell if something is wrong with the car, so maybe it IS the cat


But once again, mostly they do just go bad

 

thanks for the reply,that was my thoughts too,but now the light has gone out?i will probably try to clean it first if it gives more problems,but it has came on and off for years now--i just keep an eye on the oil,temp,etc---and keep driving as long as it seems to be running fine,this is the first time i have had it checked,and that was just because they do it for free a auto zone now--i have always felt that these computer chips with all there sensors and check engine light was mainly a way to rip most people off by them running straight to the dealership and paying out the @## for basically nothing because the"check engine light" scares them----thanks

 

My CE came on due to O2 sensor, took it out and cleaned it really well with Carb cleaner and toothbrush, that was about 15,000 miles ago, no CE since. So it is possible its just dirty.

 

yes it can be cleaned... go to the parts store and get a can of "electronics parts" cleaner and spray it liberaly. let it dry the re-install it. I've done it to my M3 and the Ram, on the M3 I had a CE light for the o2, cleaned the o2 and re-installed it, no problems after that and it runs awesome.

 

Never tried electronic spray, i know you don't wanna use acetone or solvents of any sort.

 

HEY---thanks,i will get some from the rat shack and try

 

just loose the cat and get a o2 simm from fastman

 

the elect. component spray leaves no residue and I think it may not be as harsh as some of the solvents out there.