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Oxygen Sensor (O2S) Monitor

DESCRIPTION -   Effective control of exhaust emissions is achieved by an oxygen feedback system. The most important element of the feedback system is the O2S. The O2S is located in the exhaust path. Once it reaches operating temperature 300° to 350°C (572° to 662°F), the sensor generates a voltage that is inversely proportional to the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. When there is a large amount of oxygen in the exhaust caused by a lean condition, misfire or exhaust leak, the sensor produces a low voltage, below 450 mV. When the oxygen content is lower, caused by a rich condition, the sensor produces a higher voltage, above 450mV.

The information obtained by the sensor is used to calculate the fuel injector pulse width. The PCM is programmed to maintain the optimum air/fuel ratio. At this mixture ratio, the catalyst works best to remove hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrous oxide (NOx) from the exhaust.

The O2S is also the main sensing element for the EGR, Catalyst and Fuel Monitors, and purge.

The O2S may fail in any or all of the following manners:

  1. Slow response rate (Big Slope)
  2. Reduced output voltage (Half Cycle)
  3. Heater Performance

Slow Response Rate (Big Slope) -   Response rate is the time required for the sensor to switch from lean to rich signal output once it is exposed to a richer than optimum A/F mixture or vice versa. As the PCM adjusts the air/fuel ratio, the sensor must be able to rapidly detect the change. As the sensor ages, it could take longer to detect the changes in the oxygen content of the exhaust gas. The rate of change that an oxygen sensor experiences is called 'Big Slope'. The PCM checks the oxygen sensor voltage in increments of a few milliseconds.

Reduced Output Voltage (Half Cycle) -   The output voltage of the O2S ranges from 2.5 to 5 volt. A good sensor can easily generate any output voltage in this range as it is exposed to different concentrations of oxygen. To detect a shift in the A/F mixture (lean or rich), the output voltage has to change beyond a threshold value. A malfunctioning sensor could have difficulty changing beyond the threshold value. Many times the condition is only temporary and the sensor will recover. Under normal conditions the voltage signal surpasses the threshold, and a counter is incremented by one. This is called the Half Cycle Counter.

Heater Performance -   The heater is tested by a separate monitor. Refer to the Oxygen Sensor Heater Monitor.

OPERATION -   As the Oxygen Sensor signal switches, the PCM monitors the half cycle and big slope signals from the oxygen sensor. If during the test neither counter reaches a predetermined value, a malfunction is entered and a Freeze Frame is stored. Only one counter reaching its predetermined value is needed for the monitor to pass.

The Oxygen Sensor Signal Monitor is a two trip monitor that is tested only once per trip. When the Oxygen Sensor fails the test in two consecutive trips, the MIL is illuminated and a DTC is set. The MIL is extinguished when the Oxygen Sensor monitor passes in three consecutive trips. The DTC is erased from memory after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles without test failure.

Enabling Conditions -   The following conditions must typically be met for the PCM to run the oxygen sensor monitor:

  1. Battery voltage
  2. Engine temperature
  3. Engine run time
  4. Engine run time at a predetermined speed
  5. Engine run time at a predetermined speed and throttle opening
  6. Transmission in gear (automatic only)
  7. Fuel system in Closed Loop
  8. Long Term Adaptive (within parameters)
  9. Power Steering Switch in low PSI (no load)
  10. Engine at idle
  11. Fuel level above 15%
  12. Barometric pressure
  13. Engine RPM within acceptable range of desired idle
  14. Closed throttle speed

Pending Conditions -   The Task Manager typically does not run the Oxygen Sensor Signal Monitor if overlapping monitors are running or the MIL is illuminated for any of the following:

  1. Misfire Monitor
  2. Front Oxygen Sensor and Heater Monitor
  3. MAP Sensor
  4. Vehicle Speed Sensor
  5. Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor
  6. Throttle Position
  7. Engine Controller Self Test Faults
  8. Cam or Crank Sensor
  9. Injector and Coil
  10. EVAP Electrical
  11. EGR Solenoid Electrical (if equipped)
  12. Intake Air Temperature
  13. 5 Volt Feed

Conflict -   The Task Manager does not run the Oxygen Sensor Monitor if any of the following conditions are present:

  1. A/C ON (A/C clutch cycling temporarily suspends monitor)
  2. Purge flow in progress

Suspend -   The Task Manager suspends maturing a fault for the Oxygen Sensor Monitor if any of the following are present:

  1. Oxygen Sensor Heater Monitor, Priority 1
  2. Misfire Monitor, Priority 2
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