Spyder Weird o2 sensor problem

[98gsspy]

For a couple hundred miles I was running only the front o2 senor and had my wideband plugged in the rear bung. Now I have a CEL telling me that the cat is gone, my question is why didn't this come on early? I thought the front sensor had nothing to do with the cat failing.

 

[dsmlifestyle]

What code is it throwing. Sounds like it is telling you the cat is becoming inefficient or your rear o2 sensor is malfunctioning. The front o2 can't tell if your cat is working properly, the rear o2 is used by comparing the readings. Are you running a cat, if so, W/B o2 readings aren't as accurate post cat.

 

[98gsspy]

yea, i don't know why I did that but I know it is the code bank for the cat failure, i wonder if the o2 sensor that is in is the rear and I don't have a front.

 

[toojung2die]

Your profile doesn't show if you have any kind of catalytic converter. Good thing if your WB is in the downstream o2 bung. You shouldn't be surprised to get a cat failure DTC if you have no cat. You should be surprised it didn't happen sooner. The front sensor has nothing to do with a cat failure code other than it's the reference signal the ECU uses to compare to the downstream o2 sensor.

 

[98gsspy]

I do have a cat sorry its not in the profile. Are there ay visual differences in the o2 sensors? Where is the plug located for the rear o2 sensor?

 

[TALONTRAX]

The upstream & downstream(after the cat) are different. The sensor after the cat is also referred to as a catalytic converter monitor. If the rear o2 sensor is disconnected/deleted, it usually throws a P0420 (catalytic converter efficiency low). I think a custom chip or Dsm link can be set to ignore the missing signal if you delete the rear o2 . . .

 

[98gsspy]

That's the code. I put an o2 eliminator on but the inspector was still able to see the code.

 

[toojung2die]

Is it the resistor type of o2 eliminator? Those are supposed to mimic the signal the ECU would see from a functioning cat monitor o2 sensor. The sensor may be malfunctioning. I can monitor the downstream o2 in DSMlink. You can do it by connecting a volt meter to the signal coming from the eliminator. You'll read a steady < 1 volt. Can you temporarily replace the WB with the o2 sensor long enough to pass?