O2 Sensor - replace?

[MTSuby]

I went to the dealership to get a pcv valve and an O2 sensor. I've got power & gas mileage issues and I'm trying to start by replacing cheap easy things and moving up. Well first, an O2 sensor is over $100!? Didn't realize that. The parts person told me that with carbed models (like mine) the O2 sensor doesn't really cause the problems it may on later models. True? I figure if the dealership is telling me "don't bother spending the money, it's not a big deal in your car", they're probably telling me the truth? '87 GL Wagon.

Thanks!

[GeneralDisorder]

Depends on how bad the O2 sensor is. I had one so bad on a feedback carbed EA81 that it would refuse to idle once warm. You had to disconnector the O2.

 

The dealership people don't understand the feedback carbs. The duty solenoids have quite an operational range with regard to mixture settings - the ECU bases the duty cycle on all the sensors - CTS, O2, Manifold pressure.

 

Best bet is to yank that sucker off and install either a non-feedback setup, or a Weber.

 

GD

[[HTi]Johnson]

As for an o2 sensor, check a parts store, try to get a bosch one or something respectable.

 

You have several options of fixes.

 

You can convert to a weber carburetor, which is fairly simple. Or convert to Single Point Fuel Injection, which is fairly complicated compared,to the weber swap, but with write-ups and how-to's (THanks GD) and the support of this board, is well within most people's capabilities.

 

Or you can replace the o2 sensor and pcv valve and see what it does.

 

Also, I believe you can pull up codes with the computer, well I know on the fuel injected models. Do the carburated models do the same? If so, tell this man how.

[GeneralDisorder]

Johnson']Do the carburated models do the same? If so' date=' tell this man how.[/quote']

 

Yes - they work the same way. If you get an ECS light, then you can read the codes directly off the computer under the dash. If you restart the car though, the codes are not stored on the feedback's.

 

GD

[[HTi]Johnson]

Yes - they work the same way. If you get an ECS light, then you can read the codes directly off the computer under the dash. If you restart the car though, the codes are not stored on the feedback's.

 

GD

 

Crazy, on my '87 Turbo Wagon it'd give me codes first thing in the morning without a ECS light.

[idosubaru]

an O2 sensor is over $100!?

EA/ER series O2 sensors are $20 at Advanced auto parts. Get the universal fit O2 sensor, very simple. Maybe your car is different and that's why no one has mentioned it yet?

[MTSuby]

Ok, thanks everybody. So with O2 sensors, we aren't so worried about OEM? I'll check what they are at Napa.

Good possibility I've got more carb problems than anything else, but I'm just not sure that I want to rebuild it or do the weber swap. I'm doing my best to not spend much money on this car. Carb rebuild would be pretty cheap, but we'll see..

[idosubaru]

definitely not OEM...OEM is probably just a rebranded Bosch or something anyway. you can probably search of oxygen sensor on here and get some recommendations.

 

carb's suck, i feel your pain and would bet your problem lies there as well. i never touch carbs...i just keep running them until i can't. hate 'em....admittedly due to my own ignorance.

[GeneralDisorder]

I'm doing my best to not spend much money on this car. Carb rebuild would be pretty cheap, but we'll see..

 

You aren't going to save money or fix your problems with an O2 sensor. The problems are related to your duty solenoid's and the sensors that drive it. There's more than just the O2 on these. There's a coolant temp sensor (CTS), and a manifold pressure sensor that come into play, and all of this stuff has to work together to provide the ECU with enough information to properly supply the air metering ports on the carb with filtered air.

 

The O2 sensor is the least of your worries. It's probably a bit slow from being old, but that really doesn't affect cruise conditions much at all.

 

You best bet is to install a non-feedback Hitachi DCZ-328 from an 85 to 87 EA82. It will bolt right on, be cheap to rebuild, and will give your 27+ MPG without any sensors at all.

 

GD

[MTSuby]

Ok, thank you. I'm showing my ignorance, but my car is an 87, and it's got a feedback carb? and I can install a non-feedback carb from a car of the same year? The dealership told me a rebuild kit for my car would be around $85.