o2 sensors

[Bryan02TA]

Would changing my o2 sensors stop my car from backfiring?? I think it's running rich, how do i solve this problem???

Also, once this is fixed, should i run dumps????

[IUP99snake]

chances are that new 02 sensors wont help your car from backfiring. the best thing to do is either get cats on it, or get it tuned to run leaner.

-Homer8)

[Bryan02TA]

well that sucks becuz.....fuck cats, and i can't afford to get it tuned, so i guess it will be backfiring forever!!

[brandboZ28]

First off, go to AutoZone and have those codes run. See why that CHECK ENGINE light is on and see if that doesnt lead you anywhere.

[redmach1]

Is your check engine light on? There could be a problem there. Popping is going to be there upon decceleration with out cats. The mach is bad at times with cats. Have you tried a timing adjuster to bump timing a bit? Also might want to check fuel pressure to see if your regulator is working properly.

[Bryan02TA]

the CEL is on b/c i don't have MIL's.......i assume. It really doesnt pop as much out of the gas, just in between shifts. I guess i can check my fuel pressure cuz i'm sure somebody has a gauge i can borrow. Timing adjuster sounds nice, i just can't afford one.

[Greg Kulbick]

Originally posted by 97_Stang
Timing adjuster sounds nice, i just can't afford one.

You could probably pick one up from Yellow Mustang Registry pretty cheap. The president of the club is a Steeda dealer and always has good prices.

[brandboZ28]

Originally posted by 97_Stang
the CEL is on b/c i don't have MIL's.......i assume.

You tried Jons and they didnt work. Something else is going on under the hood of that bad boy and if you dont take it up there and get your codes run, give me the keys and I will.:P What could it hurt, ITS FREE! What are you afraid of, finding that your car has a random multiple cylinder misfire?:lol: I cant wait to find that code on my car.

[jlaw]

Just a FYI... there's nothing wrong with those MIL's. You must have some other problems...

[brandboZ28]

Originally posted by evolve
Just a FYI... there's nothing wrong with those MIL's. You must have some other problems...
Just FYI, I wasnt saying that there was.:D

[Jericho574]

Originally posted by 97_Stang
well that sucks becuz.....fuck cats, and i can't afford to get it tuned, so i guess it will be backfiring forever!!

Welcome to my world

[Bryan02TA]

i'm gonna try and reinstall the MIL's to see if that works again. It was weird b/c it worked for a little bit, then the CEL came back on.

Also, I could buy Mike's t/a, but i can't afford it. If i knew for a fact that bumping the timing up would fix my car, then i would get it somehow, but otherwise, i can't.

[Bryan02TA]

The MIL's work just fine, now i'm throwing 2 other codes. My #2 o2 sensor is broke and code p1443 (my purge flow sensor).

and the car still backfires, tried it again today.....damn!!

[redmach1]

Get that o2 sensor changed asap! They play hell on Fords.

[Bryan02TA]

excuse my ignorance, what exactly does the o2 sensor do and what problems will it fix when i replace it?

[redmach1]

The o2 sensor reads oxygen amounts in the exhaust. It tells the computer if the engine is running rich or lean. The cpu uses this info to make adjustments and keep your air/fuel ratio optimum for the driving conditions you are under. Without an o2 reading, the cpu can't accurately maintain the proper ratio. I would bet replacing it would solve your problems, unless it is a rear o2 sensor. They don't have to do much with the cpu's fuel management, but might effect those circuits in the cpu if they are shorted.

[Bryan02TA]

I'll quote what my code says:
Code p0156

"The PCM had determined that a malfunction exists in the electrical circuit for oxygen sensor 2 in bank 2. (o2 sensor 1 is closest to the cylinder head before the catalytic converter, while o2 sensors 2 and 3 are located farther downstream and are typically mounted in or after the catalytic converter) (bank 1 identifies the location of cylinder 1, while bank 2 identifies the cylinders on the opposite bank)"

so it looks like it is a rear o2 sensor, so i don't think it will fix my backfiring problem, what do you think? I'm not sure how to read this jibberish.

[redmach1]

sounds to me like that o2 sensor, or the mil eliminator, is shorted. I would not expect a rear o2 sensor to affect performance if it was reading wrong, but a shorted one could be knocking out a section in the cpu. I would look for any burned spots on the wiring running to the sensor. If you don't see anything, then you might want to replace it to see what happens.

[Bryan02TA]

alright man, thanks for the info, i'll see what i can find this week before the track day.