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Basic O2 Sensors
Basic O2 Sensors
Operation &
Testing
Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry in automotive terms is the principle that
refers to the “ideal” air to fuel ratio being consumed in
the cylinder.
• Zirconia
• Titania
• Air Fuel
Oxygen Sensor Operation
- Zirconia
The Zirconia oxygen sensor produces a voltage by
distributing oxygen ions across the surface of the two
platinum electrodes.
Oxygen Sensor Operation
- Zirconia
An ion is an electrically charged atom. Oxygen ions
have a negative charge and are attracted to the ZrO2
electrolyte. Since the inside of the thimble-shaped
electrolyte is exposed to a much higher concentration
of oxygen ions than its outer side (exhaust side), a
potential difference is created between the two
platinum electrodes.
Oxygen Sensor Operation
- Zirconia
The platinum is used as an electrical connection point.
It also serves as a catalyst for the chemical reaction
that enables the sensor to produce a voltage. It needs
about 599°F (315°C) to completely set up the catalytic
reaction of the ZrO2 electrolyte.
They have less than one volt when rich and close to
five volts when lean.
When the mixture goes rich, oxygen ions flow from the
diffusion chamber to the exhaust. The voltage on
sensor #1 input increases. The ECM detects the
voltage increase and reduces the voltage on sensor #2
input.
Oxygen Sensor Operation
- Air Fuel (AF)
The voltage on sensor #2 input then goes more
negative than the ground voltage. This causes sensor
#2 to pump oxygen out of the diffusion chamber into
the air reference chamber. When the oxygen content
of the diffusion chamber drops, the voltage on sensor
#1 drops. At the same time that the ECM reduces the
voltage on sensor #2 input, it is also reducing fuel
delivery.
Oxygen Sensor Operation
- Air Fuel (AF)
When the mixture goes lean, oxygen ions flow from the
exhaust into the diffusion chamber. The voltage on
sensor #1 input decreases. The ECM detects the
voltage decrease and increases the voltage on sensor
#2 input. The voltage on sensor #2 input goes more
positive than the ground voltage. This causes sensor
#2 to pump oxygen into the diffusion chamber from the
air reference chamber. The voltage between sensor
#1 input and ground is consistently held at 450 mV.
Oxygen Sensor Operation
- Air Fuel (AF)
Lean Mixture
Zero Volts
Rich Mixture
Please wait for video to load and play.
Oxygen Sensor
Heater
Oxygen Sensor Heater
• A matured DTC
• MIL illumination
Please wait for video to load and play.
Diagnosis of
Oxygen Sensor
Aging
Oxygen Sensor Aging
Zero Volts
Determining System Control
Results:
If the oxygen sensor signal meets these
requirements, the sensor is probably okay. If not,
replace the sensor, and verify its operation again.
Verifying Zirconia Sensors
Results:
If the oxygen sensor voltage is fixed high, the
mixture is rich. Check for:
• A dripping injector
• High fuel system pressure
• A source of unmetered fuel such as the
canister purge system.
• A problem in the computer system, such
as a miscalibrated coolant temperature
sensor.
Verifying Zirconia Sensors
Results:
A fixed low voltage signal indicates a lean mixture.
Check for:
• Clogged injectors
• Low fuel pressure
• A vacuum leak
• A MAP or mass airflow sensor (MAF) that
is out of calibration.
Verifying Zirconia Sensors
Misfire:
One of the most obvious failures to show up on the
oxygen sensor signal is a misfire in the engine.
However, few technicians realize just how clearly a
misfire will appear on the oxygen sensor signal.
Verifying Zirconia Sensors
Misfire:
The graphic shows what a misfire will look like on
the oxygen sensor signal - a high frequency
variation, bouncing high and low, much faster than
a normal oxygen sensor signal.
Verifying Zirconia Sensors
Misfire:
The misfire forces a pulse of air past the oxygen
sensor, which disrupts the exhaust surrounding the
sensor. The rapid change from high oxygen to low
oxygen, and back again causes the sensor to read
a rapid change in the exhaust oxygen sensor, and
the sensor develops a high frequency signal, such
as the one shown.
Verifying Zirconia Sensors
Misfire:
Of course, this depends on the rest of the system
being in proper control of the mixture. A misfire
may not show up at all on a system with the oxygen
sensor signal fixed rich or lean. However, if the
sensor is switching properly, a misfire will show up
on the oxygen sensor signal.
Honda's
Air Fuel Sensor
Honda's Air Fuel Sensor
When a vehicle travels at a steady cruising speed,
it can achieve much better fuel efficiency and better
gas mileage with a mixture that is leaner than
14.7:1. Engineers designed an oxygen sensor to
take advantage of this better fuel efficiency. One
Honda model that uses the Air Fuel (AF) sensor is
a lean-burn Civic.
Using a DSO
• Check for any trouble codes. Repair the
problem and check to see if a road test resets the
code.
Using a DSO
Adjust your scope using these settings:
> Voltage Scale: 500 millivolts per division
> Time Base: 200 milliseconds per division
> Trigger Level: Auto On
> Put the zero voltage level in the middle of the
display.
Air Fuel Sensor Testing - Honda
Using a DSO
• Make sure the engine is at normal operating
temperature, and the AF sensor is fully warmed up.
(2000 RPM for about two minutes)
Air Fuel Sensor Testing - Honda
Using a DSO
• Use your propane enrichment tool to richen the
engine, and see whether the AF sensor voltage
goes negative. Record the average low voltage.
Zero Volts
Rich Mixture
Air Fuel Sensor Testing - Honda
Using a DSO
• Quickly shut off the propane, and force the
engine lean. See whether the AF sensor voltage
goes positive. Record the average high voltage.
Lean Mixture
Zero Volts
Air Fuel Sensor Testing - Honda
Using a DSO
• Drop the negative sign on the negative voltage,
then add the two voltage values together to get the
difference between high and low voltages. The
total difference should be over 1 volt. If it is not
over one volt, the AF sensor may be bad.
Air Fuel Sensor Testing - Honda
Using a DSO
• While the engine is
still lean, snap the
throttle all the way
open, and watch the
AF sensor voltage.
The voltage should
fall in less than 100
milliseconds. If it Zero
takes longer than 100 Volts
ms, the AF sensor
may be contaminated
or bad.
Air Fuel Sensor Testing - Honda
Using a DSO
If the AF sensor signal meets these requirements,
the sensor is probably okay. If not, replace the
sensor, and verify its operation again.
Once you verify the AF sensor signal, look for any
problems the signal indicates.
Air Fuel
Sensor Testing
- Toyota
Air Fuel Sensor Testing - Toyota
Using a Scan Tool
• Add external fuel at idle and check O2 voltage.
When external fuel is added to the intake manifold,
the scan tool displays oxygen sensor voltage
dropping for a split second to 0.640 volts. Then the
voltage returns to 0.650 volts even with fuel still
being added.