Hi, all:
Long-time reader but have never really posted before. I have really appreciated the wealth of knowledge that everyone has here, and their willingness to share and help out. I have been waiting to post to introduce my rig but, honestly, there's nothing really extraordinary about my cruiser. I mean, I really love it and daily drive it, but it's not an awesome, built rig that I see so often here. So, apologies upfront for being that guy that writes in only with a problem.
Ok, here goes. My cruiser is a 1994, 196,161 miles, pretty much stock. I've owned it for just over 11 years. Long story short, the o2 sensors have never really cooperated, and the CEL has been illuminated off and on for much of those years (code 26), not due to my lack of trying to remedy it. I've read a bunch of threads on the code 26, and I understand that bad o2 sensors may or may not be a principle factor in tripping that code. Here's why I think it is, though, due to my o2 sensors: one reason is that I've had to splice in a new pigtail on the right sensor because, at some point, the wires from the pigtail to the harness fell onto the exhaust and melted a couple of the wires. So there's a splice in there that may or may not be good. The other reason is that I can't get a voltage reading within spec for either sensor.
I ordered OEM sensors and installed them this week. The code didn't clear on it's own after a few drives, so I manually cleared it. I checked the voltage in the diagnostics box at that time, and VF1 was reading a fluctuating voltage that WAS within spec (I did the troubleshooting steps, as per the FSM). VF2's voltage was not within spec and was not fluctuating.
I drove it a couple of times (short drives), and the CEL came on again. Same code. Ran the diagnostics again (120 sec at 2500 rpm, etc.), and this time neither sensor was within spec and neither was fluctuating. Cleared code again; CEL came on again after a couple of short drives. Ran diagnostics again with the same result: both sensors reading 0.08 volts steady--no fluctuations.
Honestly, I'm not really bothered by the CEL (that's only half true...I'm pretty tired of it!). I'm mostly concerned that neither sensor (both brand new and OEM) is reading proper voltage. Both sensors have resistance within spec (5.8 and 5.9 ohms). I checked the wiring harness around the ERG valve and that is all intact. I've checked all the ground wires and they look fine. I've done a bunch of basic maintenance things over the past year but doubt that any would have affected the o2 sensors. At this point, I'm thinking maybe it's the ECU/ECM?
If anyone has any experience with this or could offer any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it! Many thanks in advance!!
Long-time reader but have never really posted before. I have really appreciated the wealth of knowledge that everyone has here, and their willingness to share and help out. I have been waiting to post to introduce my rig but, honestly, there's nothing really extraordinary about my cruiser. I mean, I really love it and daily drive it, but it's not an awesome, built rig that I see so often here. So, apologies upfront for being that guy that writes in only with a problem.
Ok, here goes. My cruiser is a 1994, 196,161 miles, pretty much stock. I've owned it for just over 11 years. Long story short, the o2 sensors have never really cooperated, and the CEL has been illuminated off and on for much of those years (code 26), not due to my lack of trying to remedy it. I've read a bunch of threads on the code 26, and I understand that bad o2 sensors may or may not be a principle factor in tripping that code. Here's why I think it is, though, due to my o2 sensors: one reason is that I've had to splice in a new pigtail on the right sensor because, at some point, the wires from the pigtail to the harness fell onto the exhaust and melted a couple of the wires. So there's a splice in there that may or may not be good. The other reason is that I can't get a voltage reading within spec for either sensor.
I ordered OEM sensors and installed them this week. The code didn't clear on it's own after a few drives, so I manually cleared it. I checked the voltage in the diagnostics box at that time, and VF1 was reading a fluctuating voltage that WAS within spec (I did the troubleshooting steps, as per the FSM). VF2's voltage was not within spec and was not fluctuating.
I drove it a couple of times (short drives), and the CEL came on again. Same code. Ran the diagnostics again (120 sec at 2500 rpm, etc.), and this time neither sensor was within spec and neither was fluctuating. Cleared code again; CEL came on again after a couple of short drives. Ran diagnostics again with the same result: both sensors reading 0.08 volts steady--no fluctuations.
Honestly, I'm not really bothered by the CEL (that's only half true...I'm pretty tired of it!). I'm mostly concerned that neither sensor (both brand new and OEM) is reading proper voltage. Both sensors have resistance within spec (5.8 and 5.9 ohms). I checked the wiring harness around the ERG valve and that is all intact. I've checked all the ground wires and they look fine. I've done a bunch of basic maintenance things over the past year but doubt that any would have affected the o2 sensors. At this point, I'm thinking maybe it's the ECU/ECM?
If anyone has any experience with this or could offer any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it! Many thanks in advance!!
