my camaro jsut threw a code 45 (or whatever a rich oxygen sensor is), so i was wondering if i could just disconnect the oxygen sensor to get a better air/fuel ratio, or do i have to get a new one?

 

Just because you get a trouble code doesn't mean that the sensor is bad. It can be the connection that is bad. The wire from the sensor may be damaged. But it may very well be that the O2 sensor is bad. If it's running rich, the car may not accelerate off the line as well as before. But it could also cause the car to have a little more top end power (that is, before the problems associated with a rich fuel mixture start showing up).

As long as the car's computer is running the show I wouldn't disconnect any of the sensors. The O2 sensor plays a very important role in how well your vehicle runs, fuel efficiency, longevity of spark plugs and catalytic converter(s). The computer is constantly looking at the input from that sensor and is constantly making adjustments to the fuel mixture. That only applies to when the car has gotten up to operating temperature; before that has happened the fuel mixture is preset by what the computer has programmed into it.

 

Get a new one and change it. The computer relies heavily on the O2 sensor for its fuel calculations. Without it, you'll get horrible gas mileage and the car will run rough.

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West Coast GM Shootout 2001!
1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.23 @ 107.62 MPH
Southern California
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87,

The problem you are experiencing sounds less like a failed oxygen sensor and more like an actual rich condition. The typical failure mode for an oxygen sensor involves a constantly weaker signal from the sensor, indicating a lean condition but causing the ECM to enrich the mixture, causing a rich condition. The O2 sensor detect a lean condition, and would set a '44' instead of a '45'.

What engine/fuel system/mods do you have?

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Later,
Vader
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"What a Day..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

it's a stock 2.8 with MPFI, the only thing i put on was 8.5 MM wires and Bosch Platinum +4 plugs

 

also, the timing is supposed to be at 10 BTDC, and i have it at around 14-16. could that be causing a rich condition?

 

Amen to that, Coach... my oxy sensor connector cooked on my exhaust once... that wire is now tied -far- out of the way!

The 14-16 might be too far advanced for power/mileage/emissions, but I doubt it would throw you a code 45.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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