Re: Oxygen Sensor Solutions

hhc314@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
On May 26, 11:35 pm, Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelati...@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
hhc...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Just as a simple tip, no suburban mechanic should be without a roll of
duct tape, several empty .22 Cal rifle shells, and a set of vise-grip
pliers when attempting to repair a car. Other useful things to keep
on hand are a package of 3-Ton Epoxy, a jar of Vasoline, a spare
gallon or two of gas. Nobody should drive without a bottle of
"Fixavlat", and those little and inexpensive 12-volt air compressors
can frequently get you out of an inconvenient jam.
Still, waiting for someone to tell me how to detect which of the many
sensors in my car is malfunctioning.
I know the USA is pretty backward but I hadn't realised it was THAT bad.

Graham

Actually Gramam, for a smart guy you are totally clueless about the
real world automobiles driven by real world people.

For example, did you know that all that the code reader (or if you
have no code reader the code flashed out when two terminals are
shrted), the codes when out are simply the stored information in the
cars computer that have previously caused the "Check Engine" signal to
illuminate.They reflect only previous conditions, often transient in
nature, and tell you nothing about current engine operating
deficiencies. To learn about defiencies during current operating
condition, you need a nothing short of an engine alalyzer, or half a
dozen different pieces of electronics test equipment.

An oscilloscope and a timing light, and dwell analyzier are needed to
correctly diagnose ignition system operatin, and to detect
abnormalities in the functioin of the dynamic advance and retardation
of ignition timing. Improper operation of the BAR sensor is a little
more difficult to determine, as is detection of the proper operation
of the throttle demand sensor, and in turn both play a critical
control role in the activation of the EGR valve, which in itself is
difficult to accurately diagnose unless also have an exhaust emission
analyzer.

Bill Ward has suggested a relatively simple method of determining
correct functionin of the oxygen sensor, which requives only a DVM or
Triplett meter to check. (Bill, thank for that informatin.)

Now Graham, in Eurpope there are many people without automobiles,
those that do own them are in a financial position to take the car to
a dealer and have someone wearing a clean white jacket diagnose and
correct the problem using the latest and greatest in advanced
electronic diagnostic equipment -- and for such service you throw
great amount of money at the feet of this person, so you are not
required to know anything except where to insert the key and drive.
Evidently college students there drive cute little new high
perforamance sports cars, while mom and dad pay for them.

The scene in the US is quite different, and here a significant portion
of college students and others drive cars that they have purchased for
under $300, while working to pay their on tuition costs and college
fees. Most of these wouldn't ever have to performance tune fuel
injectors, but many of them damn well know how to do a valve job or
engine rebuild on their old wreck, or a complete brake job while
parked on a city street. These are not drivers that own Mercedes,
BMWs, or nifty little english sports cars. Most even know how to
replace ball joints, tie rod ends, and other front end components. By
the time they have graduated with their B.S., they have either learned
how to fix that old rustmobile that they drive to college, or have to
walk or take a bus. Most of these students have a choice, either
drive a new car and have someone else repair and maintain it, or pay
for their college education. There is little in between.

That said, there are others, like me, who started out life as
described above, but who now enjoy keeping their aged clunkers on the
road at minimal annual expense. When you grow older, there is no
challenge at all in purchasing a factory fresh car from a dealer
showroom. Still, there is much greater satisfaction for a physicist
like me in keeping an old 25-year clunker on the road, and be able to
pass yearly safety and bi-annual emissions inspection here in
Massachusetts.

While I may have posted this previously, given todays rising fuel
prices, I tend to drive my 1986 Cadillac Cimarron on the daily chores.
Last year I replaced both its radiator and fuel tank in my garage, and
gave it a complete tune up. I tune, not for maximum performance, but
fuel conservation, and on it's most recent trip, it I clocked fuel
consumption at 27-mpg on Interstate runs.

My alternate set of wheels is a 1996 Ford Bronco, that arrived last
year from California. While in pristine visual condition, I really
didn't like it's road ride, so I replaced its 6 shock absorbers With
top of the line products, and now it rides more comfortably. The only
problem with this beast is that I has a 32-Gallon fuel tank, and
today's prices it cost roughly $130 to fill up and drive for then next
500 miles. Needless to say, I generally only drive this when I need to
haul by 5,000-lb sailboat up to Newbury and back twice a year. I love
Broncos.

The latest arrival is a mint condition Mercury Sable, which will
replace my wife's much older Ford Tempo, which she purchased new from
a dealer. This vechicles was transported via car carrier from Nevada,
and is so incredibly complex that I purchased on eBay a used copy of
the Ford Dealer Taurus/Sable shop manual, which on receipt turn out to
be 6-inches thick, about 2-inches thicker than that for the '96
Bronco. So far, I've only replaced the two front headligh assemblies
because the existing one had the lenses yellowed from the Nevada
desert sun exposure. I've only driven it home from the transporter's
terminal, but it runs like a champ, We'll see.

Now by contrast, my neighbor loves do drive new snappy and expensive
English made automobiles. Name one, and he has owned it! I belive
that he had a preference for Jaguar, but in passing note that they
spend more time in the shop than they do on the road, and roughly
$400+ a visit. For a while, I had to drive him to work at least twice
a month. On top of that, simply to frustrate you more (and I'm sure
that we are both mature gentlemen, and you know that while this is
reality, I only post it in jest.

My son spent 2 of his years in the USAF stationed at an RAF base named
Bentwaters in the UK. While stationed there, he owned a number of the
British "Minis" (do I have the term correct). Needless to say, he
didn't ship one home with him, and in telling you that he owned a
number of these (because that was likely the only things that he would
afford on his enlisted payscale). I'm not sure which piece of total
crap was marketed by the Brits to the driving public, but believe that
it would lie split somewhere between Jaguar and the Mini's. Triumps,
while cute were also no prize, nor was the MG, but here I may be
dating myself. :-)

OK, Graham, I am simply taunting a bit like the French like to do (I
assume that you are familiar with "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
film?) Also, I'm not French, but some bizarre English, German and
American Indian mix.

Also, you posted "I know the USA is pretty backward but I hadn't
realised it was THAT bad." Funny, that how Americans tend to view
England and most of western Europe in that same light. Now for some
rather odd reason that I have not yet digested, my son loves to visit
England an the Scotts, and does so at least quarterly. He hates
visitng france. Go figure?

Now Graham, here is my take on the entire situation. American college
students are considerably better automobile mechanics that are the
mechanic that work at the car dealership, simply because for them it
is survival and part of earning their first college degree. Then too,
once learned, a skill is rarely forgotten, which is why a number of
American professionals still know how to tear down and rebuild an
engine. (I still know how to cut a sheet of glass, which is a skill
that I learned working in a hardware store at the age of 16.)
I also learned at about 18 what a photomultiplier device is, how it
operates, explained it to you and a few other, plus emailed datasheets
to some on popular devices.)

So don't knock America and its technology. Notice the fact that you
are speaking neither German or Japanase today! (Now that was a low
blow.) :-)

Harry C.


















The '63 MGB I drove for quite a while (I got it for a few hundred bucks from a guy from California who didn't think it would stand a midwest winter.) It came with a repair manual that made almost any job easy. I looked at the section on valve regrinding and noted that it strongly suggested that you have a pro do the work. Then it stated that if you insisted on doing the job here is how you do it - along with profuse clear drawings and photographs on the details. It took me just 15 seconds to get up on the method to replace the pads of the disk brakes. I didn't have the special long cotter pins that were needed to hold the pads in place in their seat but could see that a long nail could be inserted and bent to serve in place of the special cotter pins. What a joy to work on. Only when the batteries failed did I give up on that vehicle since it was hard to find two batteries (each 6 v.) that would fit under the "back seat" for this vehicle. Eventually sold it for twice what I paid for it. In 1954 I also had an English Ford that was very old fashioned in appearance. However one morning on the way to University my brand new Olds 98 would not start (it was very very cold and it was parked outdoors.) I got the English Ford started with the hand crank (small 4 cylinder engine) when its electric starter also wouldn't operate. I prefer to let some beknighted auto mechanic do my repairs.

BTW, my great adventure with that Olds 98 was when it was still fairly new and developed a small leak in the power steering unit. Took it to the Olds dealer whose mechanic promptly replaced the seals and reinserted the unit upside down. When I complained - the steering wheel column was clearly moving eccentrically the dealer and his mechanics insisted I had bent the column by brute strength. Took it to another dealer who spotted immediately the error in reinstallation. Paid him a modest amount of money to rectify this. I was glad to see that the following year the first dealer (from whom I had purchased the 98) was out of business.
FK
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