Oxygen Sensor
Believe it or not the small, relatively unknown oxygen sensor is an important part of your vehicle and when it goes wrong you could find yourself without a means of transportation. This part of the automobile can usually be tested through the computer system and it will alert you when it malfunctions. Thankfully, most auto repair manuals cover the installation and repair of the oxygen sensor and they are usually relatively easy to locate at auto parts stores and online, and comparatively speaking they are usually not that expensive and are generally easy to replace on your own so you do not have to pay the inflated price of a mechanic.
However, you are probably wondering what it is that an oxygen sensor does in relation to your vehicle that makes it so important. The answer is that the component is part of the fuel injection system, and it works to make sure that the fuel inside of the engine runs through the motor at the proper levels of oxygenation. They do this because the oxygen sensors are located in the exhaust systems and they relate information back to the computer and when it is combined with other information sensors that are placed around the vehicle it can tell how rich or how lean that the engine is operating, and then if the gas that is going through the engine is off too much it will adjust the amount of oxygen that is being put into the gasoline.
In fact, the oxygen sensor is just one part in a long line of parts that combine together to help the fuel run through the fuel injectors at the appropriate levels so that the vehicle can function accordingly. That is probably why when it goes bad you will immediately notice some problems with your vehicle, and this can include problems with the motor not revving up correctly or failing to idle when sitting still at stop signs and lights. There are several other signs that your oxygen sensor may be having problems, but usually these can be detected with the use of a scanner that will read the computer. Your check engine light should come on when the oxygen sensor goes bad, and then you can take the vehicle to almost any auto repair shop or mechanic and have it scanned. Once the scanner is hooked up it will read the computer and pop up with an error code, which will be able to alert people as to the basis for the problem. If it is the oxygen sensor many times the auto parts store will have one on hand and you should be able to put the new one on with relative ease.
It's generally easier to replace the oxygen sensor on your vehicle if you have an auto repair manual that is linked in with your vehicle. While oxygen sensors are relatively easy to find you will want to be absolutely sure that you are in the right position and that you can change them out correctly. Plus, the repair manual is never a bad thing to have on hand in case you run into other engine repair issues. And, while the oxygen sensor may be something that you can easily locate and replace, other future issues might not be so simple. Another good thing about the repair manuals is that they offer trouble shooting tips in them so that if you are having a problem and you are having difficulty diagnosing it, the manual will give you a few different things to check on that are generally associated with the type of problem you are experiencing.
