How to Check Honda Oxygen Sensors

Charles
Wed, 06/10/2009 - 10:18

On Honda cars, oxygen sensors are considered as an integral part of their engine. These sensors are basically used to pick up your vehicle gas mileage, and they tend to reduce pollution as well as save fuel by making the car run well. Oxygen sensors normally examine the amount of oxygen in your car exhaust to find out if the engine is running powerfully. And if a car is not running appropriately, oxygen sensors are usually charged for this fault. It is not too difficult to confirm this thing and you can check it with the help of some low-tech tools. Here’s how to check Honda oxygen sensors.

Things you’ll need:

The helpful tools to check your Honda oxygen sensors include:

  • Digital voltmeter
  • Vise
  • Propane Torch
  • Ratchet set

Step 1:

First take the oxygen sensor out from the engine and detach the wiring harness. Unscrew the oxygen sensor to take it away.

Step 2:

Put the oxygen sensor in the vise and after that connect the negative voltmeter lead to the case of the sensor as well as the positive lead to the sensor output wire. Use the propane torch to make light and provide heat to the fluted area of the sensor. Remember that voltage must let off approximately 0.6 or even higher within 20 seconds of heating. If you see that voltage has increased, take the flame out and observe a drop to under 0.1 seconds. If there is not any variation in voltage, it means that the sensor is most likely fouled. But if sensor presents the differences in voltage, go to Step 3.

Step 3:

Now heat the pierced part of the sensor for about two minutes and observe drops in voltage. At times the connections will inaugurate under heat and proceed like a loose wire. If the sensor falls short this two-minute test; it means it needs to be replaced. On the other hand, if it does not show prominent fluctuations in voltage under constant heat as well as it presents a specific difference in voltage with the addition and removal of heat, then clearly the sensor is okay and you can then remount it in the engine by simply carrying out Step 1 in reverse order.

Tips & Warnings:

The top way to test O2 meters for their functionality is to use digital voltmeters as they can record a low voltage. Avoid using non-powered analog-style voltmeters.

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