[avtopi]

What is the purpose of O2 sensor attached on Catalyst Converter. My car is running sluggish below 50. I changed upstream O2 sensor, but no change in performance. I don't want to spend 100$ on another stock O2 sensor.

 

[aironjack]

That sensor is called Lambda sensor too. It is in charge of measuring the richness of the mixture that gets to the catalytic converter. If the mixture is too rich it sends information to the ECU to reduce the mixture, if it is too lean then it send the order to put more fuel on it. Every car has a different number of o2 and lambda sensors.

Basically you can test an O2 sensor with a multimeter. There are two things you have to test:
1.- You connect the voltmeter to the pins of the sensor and heat the sensor stick in the other side, for this you can use a propane torch, or if not a bonfire.
2.- You connect the ohmmeter to the pins of the sensor and test the heater resistance of it holding it with your hand and seeing if the voltage changes. The heat of your hand should make it change slowly but constant.

In both cases when you stop putting heat on it, the values should drop in about 3 or 4 seconds.
With this test procedure you can ensure your O2 sensor is really not working, before paying an unnecessary one.

Have you read your car codes?

 

[03OrangeSVT]

Actually the down stream sensor really doesnt do anything other than let you know the CAT is working properly.... the 1st sensor is where the ECU gets ALL of its info reguarding air/fuel ratio.

 

[avtopi]

Changing downstream O2 sensor is going to help fix my problem ?

 

[Grumpy]

No. Have you checked/replaced the more routine items. Air filter, fuel filter, plugs, plug leads, any vacuum leaks etc. Is this a stock SPI? Any missing at all, or just sluggish? Original MAF?