Help: Check Engine Light = O2 Sensor

[twiztidintegra]

I went to Autozone this morning to check the reason why my Check Engine Light came on. The guy said it was the O2 Sensor, and I needed to replace it. He looked it up and it came out to be around $250 just for the piece, not installed. He didn't explain it too good, but I was wondering if someone could tell me what the O2 Sensor did. And also, where is a good place to buy a new one for cheaper than $250? And if anyone has any opinions on what I should do. Thanks a lot

[twiztidintegra]

One more question, are the front and rear O2 Sensors the same? Because I found this one site that has them for $70 a piece, and he told me that the front and rear are the same, but then I called Acura, and they have them for $230 a piece, and the guy told me that the front and rear are different. Thanks

[kinghawk]

the O2 sensor reads the amount of oxygen content in the exhaust and adjusts a number of things on the engine in order to run "better". I would shop around and find some other places for it..... Also a last resort I usually do to attemp to clean out the O2 is unplug a major vacuum hose usually one that controls the brake booster, and rev the engine up to about 5000 for about 5 minutes...... this would cause a lean condition thus cleaning out the O2.. I would also reset the ECU after everything is done

[twiztidintegra]

kinghawk -

Aight thanks, now I know what it does. When you said to clean out the O2 Sensor, is that before I buy a new one, so maybe it'll fix the problem, or is that after I buy a new one? And where is the major vacuum hose located? Thanks again

[kinghawk]

well before you go and deck down those $250 its worth a try to "save" the old one... THe Vaccum line Im talking about is pretty much the biggest one in the engine bay..... Im not sure how much you know about cars but where you usually fill up your brake fluid...... well the brake booster right benind it up against the fire wall ( big black disk) thee will be a black vacuum line hooked up to it all the way to the intake manifold ( big silver tubby thing)??? unplug it from there and rev the engine for a lil

[twiztidintegra]

aight thanks a lot. I'm going to try that out tommorow, and hopefully I don't have to replace the whole thing.