O2 sensor replacement and questions

[2003 Saturn Vue]

Going to do the wrong thing, part replacement repair.....

2003 Vue 4 cylinder, how difficult is it to replace the front O2 sensor? Is it a major PITA? Any tips or hints would be great. I did search the forums for a detailed answer, but couldnt find one specific to the Vue.

I'm reasonably sure the O2 sensor(s) have taken a dump. 85K miles, mileage has gone down the tubes, maybe by as much as 30 to 40%, and the exhaust stinks to high heaven. Sevice engine soon light came on a couple times recently as well, but it's not on constantly, it's not flashing nor has it flashed, and the reduced power light came on too.

Thanks

[bigdude2468]

Pull the codes but get it fixed right away. If it is the O2 sensor you will ruin the catalytic convertor in no time. The excess fuel being dumped into the exhaust will kill it but fast and they are expensive.

[Gerry Proctor]

Well, you seem to already know throwing parts at it hoping the problem goes away is at best a bad way to spend your money.

Get the codes read and let us know what codes you got. If it turns out to be a MAF or thermostat, the money you'll spend on O2 sensors could have gone to those.

[2003 Saturn Vue]

I know, I know, it's the wrong way to go about things.

As for the codes, is there a way to pull them the poor mans way, counting the blinks of something by jumping a connector or doing the key on / off a couple times?

[fdryer]

Well, the 'poor man's'/everyone in the know way would be to go find Autozone or someplace similar that will read the codes for free at no cost to you. All vehicles made after '96 are using OBD II and need a code reader to display diagnostic trouble codes (DTC's). They're hoping that by reading your codes (be sure to write down the displayed codes for posting here) you'll buy what they recommend. Unless these code readers (the person performing the operation) are ASE certified as mechanic/technician on every vehicle made by every automobile maufacturer (not likely), decline their suggestions of parts replacements. All you need to do is to have the SES light stay on when you pull in for a reading. Sometimes friends or co-workers buy their own code readers that can easily read most engine codes. I takes less than a few minutes to retrieve these codes.

[2003 Saturn Vue]

Thanks. A friend has one of those Auto-Xray readers, but it's older ( 1995 / 1996 ), and I dont think it will read OBDII codes.

If it does, then I'll grab that and see what's what? The local Advance here has employees that I can say, with 110% certainty, are not ASE mechanics.

[fdryer]

Say!? Even a dimbulb like me was able to borrow a reader from a co-worker recently. Snap!? The buttons were limited to 6; up, down, read, erase, back, and enter. One errant heated O2 sensor triggered the SES light for almost week until I used the all important plug n' play feature to display the code, erase it and wait another week before safely declaring a false error code. :cool:

[2003 Saturn Vue]

Say!? Even a dimbulb like me was able to borrow a reader from a co-worker recently. Snap!? The buttons were limited to 6; up, down, read, erase, back, and enter. One errant heated O2 sensor triggered the SES light for almost week until I used the all important plug n' play feature to display the code, erase it and wait another week before safely declaring a false error code. :cool:

Say what? Baxter, you know I dont speak spanish, in english please.

But seriously, now I dont know who the bigger idiot is, myself or my wife. Just checked her car tonight, especially stinky. Pop the hood and lo and behold what do I see?? Well, it's what I didn't see, and that was the oil filler cap, and the effects of no oil filler cap under the hood. :whoa:

Considering I did the oil change on this, I guess I'm the one responsible for this debacle. I would be a first, in 20 years of shadetree oil changes i've NEVER left the oil cap off any vehicle. :upset:

With the cap off, I'm guess that's cause somewhat of a major vacuum leak / abnormality, which might cause the computer to go nuts. My car wont run with the cap off. If it's running and you take it off, car dois. Try to start w/o the cap, it'll just crank and sputter, but never run.

Guess I'm getting a cap, cleaning the engine, and then see what happens after that....

[andyr13]

My local auto parts store could not read the codes. When our CEL was on their reader still said it passed.

Might be worth having a full diagnostic ran on it. Your ignition control module might be getting ready to bite the dust just like ours did.