YACT: Oxygen Sensors

[amnesiac]

Took my car in today because my "check engine" light has been on for a couple weeks.

Apparently I have 2 oxygen sensors in my car that need replacing.
They want $150 PER SENSOR to fix them, which leads me to ask:

1) How important are the oxygen sensors? What do they do?
2) Can I get them for less than $150 each?
3) Can I install them myself or find someone cheaper than my dealer's service dept?

Notes: I'm in CA so I'm guessing they're required. I have a 2000 Toyota Tundra V8.

 

[Heisenberg]

1) Important. They allow the computer to calculate the proper air/fuel mixture.
2) Maybe. Look at other parts stores.
3) They're not that hard to do yourself.

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
1) How important are the oxygen sensors? What do they do?

Depending on whether or not you live in a place that regulates emissions , you may or may not HAVE to have them. Oxygen sensors detect how much o2 is in the exhaust and helps the computer adjust the air-to-fuel mix ratio accordingly.

2) Can I get them for less than $150 each?

What make/model/year is your car?

3) Can I install them myself or find someone cheaper than my dealer's service dept?

yes.

 

[Howard]

Oxygen sensors monitor the air/fuel ratio. If they stop working you might mess up your cat (the EPA will be on you regardless).

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Howard
Oxygen sensors monitor the air/fuel ratio. If they stop working you might mess up your cat (the EPA will be on you regardless).

Catalytic converters aren't required everywhere. (not required where I live)

But still, having the propper air/fuel mix is preferrable.

 

[amnesiac]

Beau: I'm in CA and have a 2000 Toyota Tundra V8

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Beau

Originally posted by: Howard
Oxygen sensors monitor the air/fuel ratio. If they stop working you might mess up your cat (the EPA will be on you regardless).

Catalytic converters aren't required everywhere. (not required where I live)

But still, having the propper air/fuel mix is preferrable.

Uh, cats are required (on cars that originally had cats) everywhere in the US now. Every car sold here is fitted with cats, and according to Federal Law, you cannot remove any emissions control device from a vehicle, and if it wears out you're required to replace it IIRC.

ZV

 

[Bignate603]

your car will still work if the oxygen sensor isn't working, you'll just get worse performance and worse gas mileage.

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Beau

Originally posted by: Howard
Oxygen sensors monitor the air/fuel ratio. If they stop working you might mess up your cat (the EPA will be on you regardless).

Catalytic converters aren't required everywhere. (not required where I live)

But still, having the propper air/fuel mix is preferrable.

Uh, cats are required (on cars that originally had cats) everywhere in the US now. Every car sold here is fitted with cats, and according to Federal Law, you cannot remove any emissions control device from a vehicle, and if it wears out you're required to replace it IIRC.

ZV

Just stating what my mechanic told me a while ago. (I still got a the cat put back in, though.)

 

[MomAndSkoorbaby]

Skoorbie changed ours a few weeks back...nothing to it really although he had a hard time getting the thing lose! Our gas mileage was really bad leading up until we changed it.....

 

[Nocturnal]

For my Honda ONE o2 sensor is almost $100.00. I don't know how much yours are, but that sounds about right. And yes, all the o2 sensor is is this spark plug looking thing with a harness that you plug into something else. It screws right into your exhaust manifold, or if you have a header, your header.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Beau

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Beau

Originally posted by: Howard
Oxygen sensors monitor the air/fuel ratio. If they stop working you might mess up your cat (the EPA will be on you regardless).

Catalytic converters aren't required everywhere. (not required where I live)

But still, having the propper air/fuel mix is preferrable.

Uh, cats are required (on cars that originally had cats) everywhere in the US now. Every car sold here is fitted with cats, and according to Federal Law, you cannot remove any emissions control device from a vehicle, and if it wears out you're required to replace it IIRC.

ZV

Just stating what my mechanic told me a while ago. (I still got a the cat put back in, though.)

I know that you can use aftermarket "high-flow" cats to replace a worn out original cat. Emissions laws are complex, and it's hard to tell exactly what they mean. In places that don't have inspection, you can get away with not having a cat and no-one will know (a police officer I know pulled the cat off of his 1977 'Vette even though he knows he's not technically allowed to). The mechanic may have been thinking about it that way.

ZV

 

[Quixfire]

amnesiac 2.0, regardless of where you live there is a 5/50K federal emissions law, which covers O2 Sensors because they related to emissions. If you took it to a dealer, they are trying to scamp you. If it's an independent garage, they won't tell because they would lose money. I recommend calling a Toyota dealer and inquiring about this, plus most low mileage vehicles develop lean O2 codes because of something else and not bad O2 sensors.

 

[The Stigenator]

check the warrenty.. I thought emmision equipment had a longer warrenty.. and it should be under warrenty for a 2000 model car.

Somehow Toyota's quality has been on the decline.. I know several ppl with new / newer toyota's who are having major problems right outside the 3yr/36K warrenty..

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
For my Honda ONE o2 sensor is almost $100.00. I don't know how much yours are, but that sounds about right. And yes, all the o2 sensor is is this spark plug looking thing with a harness that you plug into something else. It screws right into your exhaust manifold, or if you have a header, your header.

Go to AutoZone and have them look it up. Aftermarket O2 sensors are pretty common. You should be able to change it out with an open-end wrench and some elbow grease. Once you locate it, spray it with some WD40 and crank on it. Should take you 10-20 mins for the total job....

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
For my Honda ONE o2 sensor is almost $100.00. I don't know how much yours are, but that sounds about right. And yes, all the o2 sensor is is this spark plug looking thing with a harness that you plug into something else. It screws right into your exhaust manifold, or if you have a header, your header.

Go to AutoZone and have them look it up. Aftermarket O2 sensors are pretty common. You should be able to change it out with an open-end wrench and some elbow grease. Once you locate it, spray it with some WD40 and crank on it. Should take you 10-20 mins for the total job....

Isn't aftermarket parts, especially for an o2 sensor, kinda crappy?

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
For my Honda ONE o2 sensor is almost $100.00. I don't know how much yours are, but that sounds about right. And yes, all the o2 sensor is is this spark plug looking thing with a harness that you plug into something else. It screws right into your exhaust manifold, or if you have a header, your header.

Go to AutoZone and have them look it up. Aftermarket O2 sensors are pretty common. You should be able to change it out with an open-end wrench and some elbow grease. Once you locate it, spray it with some WD40 and crank on it. Should take you 10-20 mins for the total job....

Isn't aftermarket parts, especially for an o2 sensor, kinda crappy?

Not if it's a quality part. Nothing inherently wrong with aftermarket parts.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
check the warrenty.. I thought emmision equipment had a longer warrenty.. and it should be under warrenty for a 2000 model car.

Somehow Toyota's quality has been on the decline.. I know several ppl with new / newer toyota's who are having major problems right outside the 3yr/36K warrenty..

I can't comment on Toyota's warranty, but I know that one of the GM products that I owned a few years ago had a 100,000 / 10 year warranty on emissions equipment. I had the computer module replaced at 75,000 miles for free under this warranty coverage.

I would read through the owner's manual. The details should be provided there. Best of luck! 🙂

 

[white]

check the warranty first. if it's not covered, do it yourself and borrow the socket from autozone.

 

[Bartman39]

This impressive...

Also check your owners manual for the warranty on your 2000 Tundra

You`ll find most emission warranties are no less than 5 years so it should be covered

If it is and O2 sensor(s) on the blink then severe damage can occur to the catalytic converter mainly because most that are made now are of the monolithic block style that can overheat and melt internaly and actually plug your exhaust and cause other serious engine damge... 😉

Just to add... some setups have up to 4 O2 sensors (2 on each side... front and rear of the cat...) you need to know which one(s) are having the problem in order to change them... An OBD II would be required (or better...) Also as new as the truck is the O2 sensors may not be availible in the reg parts houses and it may be a dealer item only...?

And yes I am a mechanic (Auto, Heavy equipment & AG equipment trained...)

 

[amnesiac]

Here's what I've found:

- Toyota wants to charge me $150 PER O2 SENSOR plus labor, so apparently it's not under warranty. I'll double check to make sure, and if they're trying to scam me you can bet someone's ass will be grass.

- Autozone wants $69.99 for an aftermarket Bosch sensor

 

[mithrandir2001]

Originally posted by: Bignate603
your car will still work if the oxygen sensor isn't working, you'll just get worse performance and worse gas mileage.

Hmmm. My check engine goes on and off occasionally and my gas mileage does seem to be a few mpg below normal. Could be a connection.

 

[Bartman39]

If thats the case ($150 Vs. $70ea...) Then go to a shop you trust and have them scan the truck and tell you which O2 sensor(s) are bad... Yes you can install them yourself but doubt you can clear the code... But that is no biggie as it wont affect anything... The light should not come back on...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
Here's what I've found:

- Toyota wants to charge me $150 PER O2 SENSOR plus labor, so apparently it's not under warranty. I'll double check to make sure, and if they're trying to scam me you can bet someone's ass will be grass.

- Autozone wants $69.99 for an aftermarket Bosch sensor

Get the BOSCH. BOSCH is OEM for almost all German companies, so you know they make good stuff. IIRC Japanese cars use NipponDenso or NGK. Any of those three brands are quality.

ZV

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
Here's what I've found:

- Toyota wants to charge me $150 PER O2 SENSOR plus labor, so apparently it's not under warranty. I'll double check to make sure, and if they're trying to scam me you can bet someone's ass will be grass.

- Autozone wants $69.99 for an aftermarket Bosch sensor

How many miles on the truck. Is it used for a business, i.e. comercial use? and I use Bosch O2 sensors on my cars AND my customers cars. Never had a problem with them. In fact some older Jap and american cars have lower quality on their O2 seners then the aftermarket Bosch ones I have seen.

Also Autozone has a Rent a tool program that they will loan you a O2 sensor socket to change the O2 sensor, you just have to leave a deposit so you bring it back.