The oxygen sensor can make your car buck like a bronco because it can indirectly affect how much air and fuel is in the combustion chamber if it is malfunctioning. Miller Brothers Auto Repair advises that you can expect to get about 90,000 miles out of your oxygen sensor. Once the O2 sensor goes bad, your vehicle’s main computer may push too much fuel into the combustion chamber. This will make your engine surge and you feel as if you are driving a bucking bronco.
Engine Hesitation
The main computer can also push too much air into the combustion chamber based on a faulty O2 sensor’s readings. When this happens, your engine and its acceleration will become sluggish and lag. You may feel your engine stuttering at higher speeds.
Black Exhaust Smoke
Another sign that your vehicle’s O2 sensor has gone bad is black exhaust smoke. If you see this smoke coming out of the tailpipe, your vehicle’s engine is burning too much fuel. Again, this can happen if the main computer chip pushes extra fuel into the combustion chamber.
Check Engine Light
Usually, when an oxygen sensor malfunctions, it sends an error code to your car’s main computer. Because the oxygen sensor does not have a dashboard warning light, your automobile will turn on the check engine light to alert you that there is a problem under the hood.
High Emissions Levels
If your engine is burning too much fuel, this can also affect your emissions levels. You might end up with extra hydrocarbons in your vehicle’s exhaust and, consequently, your vehicle may not pass an emissions test until you replace the oxygen sensor.
Poor Fuel Economy
You may also notice a difference in your automobile’s fuel economy. Any time the air and fuel balance in the combustion chamber is off, you will have engine performance problems. These problems cause the engine to use up more diesel fuel or gasoline. Consequently, you won’t get the gas mileage you normally get if the oxygen sensor has gone bad.
Rotten Egg Odor
Finally, excess hydrocarbons can also cause problems with the catalytic converter. They can clog the converter and, as a consequence, you may smell rotten eggs. This odor can be detected in your vehicle’s exhaust and in the engine bay.
Miller Brothers Auto Repair in Somerset, WI, can help, so give us a call today. We’d be happy to replace your oxygen sensor if it has gone bad.