Oxygen Sensors 101 - Testing O2 Sensors for Resistance and DC Voltage

[Scan Tools]
CHEAP bluetooth scan tool: https://amzn.to/30Alycj
Scan tool (No phone required): https://amzn.to/30C0IJC

[Recommend Tools]
Cheap Multimeter: https://amzn.to/2Oh68Hy
Crocodile Clips: https://amzn.to/30AxCu5
Propane Nozzle: https://amzn.to/3eJ8REv

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:15 The Purpose of This Test
1:02 What is an O2 Sensor?
4:20 Types of O2 Sensor
5:10 Test Heater Element for Resistance
6:54 Test for Voltage


--------------

Oxygen Sensors 101 - Testing O2 Sensors for Resistance and DC Voltage

SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE!

#OxygenSensors #O2Sensors #LambdaSensor

--------------

[Graphing O2 sensors]
We want to graph the UPSTREAM oxygen sensors for performance issues. They produce voltage between 0 and 0.9 volts.
We want to graph the DOWNSTREAM oxygen sensors to check the efficient of the cat. They produce voltage between 0 and 0.9 volts.
High graph/voltage - RICH (Too much fuel, too little air)
Low graph/voltage - LEAN (Too much air, too little fuel)
Erratic graph / No graph / no voltage - Failing O2 sensor

[How Many? - TYPICAL Example]
A V6 has 6 cylinders, with 2 cylinder heads. A cylinder head groups a row of cylinders, so 3 cylinders per head in this example. The exhaust manifold captures the exhaust as a result of the engine combustion at each head. So on a V6, you have 2 exhaust manifolds. The vehicle manufacturer decides how this exhaust is processed and exited from the vehicle. It could be combined into one tailpipe, two or four for example.
Usually each exhaust manifold will have it's own set of O2 sensors and a catalytic converter.
So on a V6 or V8, there is typically 4 total O2 sensors.

[How to]
RULE:
When the car is COLD, the O2 sensors will flat line (not oscillate / no amplitude).
As the car heats up, and the O2 sensors heat up, the voltage output begins to oscillate until they reach their temperature of around 600F.

1. Get the car to operating temperature. This ensures the readings are accurate. The engine will go into CLOSED LOOP when warm, this is where the engine listens to the O2 sensors to adjust the air/fuel ratio.
2. For performance issues, we want to test all UPSTREAM sensors, so BANK X Sensor 1 (upstream/precat/etc) as these provide feedback to the ECU to adjust the air/fuel ratio based off their voltage readings.
NOTE: The good thing about having two UPSTREAM sensors is that you have a point of comparison.
3. Check the graphs are making sharp continuous sine waves, like spikes oscillating. When giving gas, the spikes will happen MORE frequently and it'll be more condensed. The graph will typically go from 0.01v to 0.9v


[Interpreting the Results]
The actual engine code gives you the first clue. Is it a low voltage issue? General malfunction? Heater circuit malfunction?
Solid line can mean a dead sensor or sensor failure (Assuming the car is warm)
If the spikes are LESS frequent, you have a slow response condition.
No voltage, dead sensor or wiring (May throw a specific code for this issue.)

These terms are all one and the same:
Front O2 sensors
upstream
Bank X Sensor 1
pre-cat
before cat
manifold

These are all one and the same:
Rear O2 sensors
downstream
Bank X Sensor 2
after cat
post-cat

Example O2 Codes:
P0130,P0131,P0132,P0133,P0134,P0135,P0136,P0137,P0138,P0139,P0140,P0141,P0142,P01403,P01404,P01405,P01406,P0147


Video Title: Oxygen Sensors 101 - Testing O2 Sensors for Resistance and DC Voltage

Video File Created Date: Thursday, 11 March, 2021 (Video may or may not have been captured on this date, it shows the date the video was last converted.)

-- Video uploaded and managed using YouTube Bulk Uploader for the Lazy!
-- Manage and Auto-Tag your YouTube videos offline... Then upload!
-- http://ginkosolutions.com/youtube-bul...
-- GinkoSolutions.com

Video Tags:
oxygen, sensors, 101, testing, o2, resistance, dc, voltage, upstream, downstream, o2 sensors, oxygen sensors, bank 1 sensor 1, bank, sensor, precat, pre-cat, slow response, o2 sensor, o2 sensor replacement, o2 sensor symptoms, oxygen sensor, oxygen sensor symptoms, oxygen sensor replacement, oxygen sensor bank 1 sensor 2, oxygen sensor cleaning, oxygen sensor test, how to test oxygen sensors, p0130, p0131, p0132, p0133, p0134, p0135, how to, lambda sensors