Does anyone know or have a pic of what a burnt out 02 sensor looks like?

Reason I ask is I think my 02 sensor is either about to go or is already gone cause I can smell a rich fuel smell as if it's running a bit lean. Cars consumption jumped from 10.5-11.5 city to shoot upto and staying at 15.5.

On a side note, rang mitsu for a price for a 02 and they want $360.

Repco sell Bosch type O2 sensors (which is what mitu's use anyway) for about $120... it'll take about 30min to and hour for Mitsu Service to install it and should cost about $80 to do.

Dont let them tell you it takes longer, im pretty sure i still have the receipt in my car to prove it from when i had mine changed

You can do it yourself...
Just jack the car up on stands, I THINK It unplugs from the lower centre console (you'll see the grommet) Not sure on size but when you install it just use some anti-seize compound on the thread and your done

remove passenger side lower console side trim, remove metal plate, locate 4 pin white connector and disconnect, jack car up, loosen o2 sensor, remove o2 sensor from exhaust, remove grommet, gently pull wires thruogh hole, to install new o2 sensor reverse above, new o2 sensor will already have antisieze on it.

should only take 30min or less

remove passenger side lower console side trim, remove metal plate, locate 4 pin white connector and disconnect, jack car up, loosen o2 sensor, remove o2 sensor from exhaust, remove grommet, gently pull wires thruogh hole, to install new o2 sensor reverse above, new o2 sensor will already have antisieze on it.

should only take 30min or less
There ya go!

From memory you'll need a 15/16th spanner\22mm. Preferably a big one. Or a can of freeze and release and a heap of elbow grease.

Yeah!! I asked what does one look like thats rooted, changing one is the easy part, I've taken a few out before.

Mother in Law has a TS and I use to own a TH, but never really took notice as to what they look like rooted.

This is one I ripped out of a TL today from the local wreckers, before I made this post.

http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm329/grelise1/DSCF0799.jpg
Added this pic for more detail of the actual sensor part.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm329/grelise1/DSCF0800.jpg

I have seen a few generally covered in crap from over the years, all the holes being blocked...Don't have much experience with them yet so that's all I can say so far...
That one LOOKS fine...But a test with a multimeter should confirm it

you cant really tell if its stuffed by visual. if your getting bad fuel economy it is 1 problem that could cause it. to diagnose it ull need a scan tool ur aqnalyzer to tell if its reading slow. as in lean and then takes awhile to read rich(computer changes mixtures very quickly). it should read lean then change to rich within 3-8 seconds depending on coolantg tempreture.

They are really easy to test guys!


Warm up the motor with a 5m drive
Probe the o2 sensor wire with a multimeter - red on o2 sensor signal and black on the chassis
Watch the multimeter - it will cycle from 0.2v to 1.3v every 2 or 3 seconds which proves your o2 sensor is fine

This is done with the white/green pin 71 on the ECU. The plug with pin 71 has 28 pins and 71 is the first.


Although for the sake of $120 it is something I can definatly recommend replacing if over 100,000km. They are a servicable item every 100,000km odd but often last 300,000km.

They are really easy to test guys!


Warm up the motor with a 5m drive
Probe the o2 sensor wire with a multimeter - red on o2 sensor signal and black on the chassis
Watch the multimeter - it will cycle from 0.2v to 1.3v every 2 or 3 seconds which proves your o2 sensor is fine

This is done with the white/green pin 71 on the ECU. The plug with pin 71 has 28 pins and 71 is the first.


Although for the sake of $120 it is something I can definatly recommend replacing if over 100,000km. They are a servicable item every 100,000km odd but often last 300,000km.
Thanks for the added info, looks like I'll have to buy myself a multimeter, or just borrow one from work:D

Thanks for the added info, looks like I'll have to buy myself a multimeter, or just borrow one from work:D
Cheap one is $12 mate and they are GOLD to have around :D

']Cheap one is $12 mate and they are GOLD to have around :D
Yeah sure will, was also thinking if I'm goin to change the 02 thought I might get a new cat and change that too:)