Front O2 Sensor Dead

[98GSX-WI]

Say, can anyone summarize for me what the effects of a dead O2 sensor are. I'm having it replaced soon, but I was just curious how my car will run in the meantime. I had a scanner used, which indicated that the sensor was reading a steady (0 volts) even when the car was revved. I believe that one thing that the sensor said was that the car was staying in a Open Loop? (could be closed loop -- whichever one that the car uses during idle) Will this cause me to loose power or have any other ill effects? Thanks!

 

[jb talons]

This happened to me just after I got my car. What I think the car does is that it thinks it running lean (no signal from the O2) so it compenstes and runs rich. I may run a little rough and get poor milage.

If you're going to change the O2 sensor yourself, and you don't have the right socket, either spend a few bucks or find someone who has one. The socket has a slot cut in the side to allow the wire out. It makes the job 1000 time easier.

 

[98GSX-WI]

Thanks for the reply. I just had all of my mods installed at once...and my A/F gauge is reading all the way to the lean side, just like you said. I have been working with a great mechanic on the side and he has the socket with the slit on the side of it to install it. The curious thing is that my mileage isn't that bad. Just before my mods I was getting 24mpg and just after the mods with 14-15psi of boost on 93 octane I am getting 21 mpg. (Only mod not added yet is 255hp fuel pump). This is with a good amount of city driving going to work and without babying it...