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96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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MankindCRF
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Sep 13, 2011, 1:38 PM
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96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Hey all,
Recently the check engine light came on in my 96 Chevy Cavalier, $125K miles believe it or not. Went to Autozone, they ran a scan and found it was my intake oxygen sensor which luckily was only like $15. I had my buddy put it in for me, as although I tried to figure out how to replace it myself, I couldn't get it and didn't want to mess up anything. I'm no pro, but I am not a total noob, as I even charged my own AC this summer 
So, he changes it for me, and since I don't do too much driving back and forth to work, I figured it would take awhile for the check engine light to go off. After about 2 weeks, I unhooked my battery for awhile, and initially no check engine light. After about 20 minutes of driving, the light came back on. Went to Autozone, and they scanned it and its the exact same code that's coming up. At this point, I have 2 main questions:
1- I read on a random google search that unhooking the battery will not reset this paticular code, so it's normal the light is still on since I didn't do whatever it takes to clear out that scan and start fresh. Is that true and if so I guess I have nothing to worry about?
2- I tried to take the sensor out myself, I know I had the correct sensor but it just kept spinning and spinning. It didn't get looser, nor did it start to stick out more the more I twisted it, like when you unscrew a screw. Now I am a bit worried as I spun it back around the other way to "make sure it was on correctly" but I'm not really sure. I can take that wire harness clip and and off no problem, but its the part that sticks into the plastic off that big hose that the sensor screws into that I can't really see. There is like a plastic lips that covers up where it actually screws is, so perhaps the base of where I am screwing it into is spinning as well? I tried to remove the air filter hose to see if I could get a better view in there, but once I did it wasn't even close. Do I have to now worry that I don't have it on properly? Even spinning in clockwise over and over again, it doesn't get to a point where it stops spinning.
Any help would be appreciated. This is like a $15 do it myself job or $60-$75 at a garage, so a big thanks beforehand!
(This post was edited by MankindCRF on Sep 13, 2011, 1:40 PM)
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2011, 1:46 PM
Post #2 of 21
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Your first mistake was letting to guys at AutoZone give you any advice. They are not trained techs. They sell parts. Let them read the code and just give you the number without selling you anything. We need the exact code number to get an idea what may be wrong.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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MankindCRF
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Sep 13, 2011, 1:58 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Thanks for the reply. Although I know Autozone workers can be foolish at times, I do go out of my way to my old hometown where the people are considerably more knowledgable that the interesting folk who work in the inner-city Autozone.
The code itself I believe ended in 0014, but I could be wrong. If it helps, two seperate guys from the "good" Autozone gave me the same code reading, I saw the code pop up and their scanner indicated it was the intake oxygen sensor. I didn't realize there was room for error in such a simple process, but that's my bad. It did seem like the scanner did all the work, so I didn't know human error could come into play. Are my inquiries pretty useless unless I go to a garage and pay big bucks to have them scan it?
Thanks!
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2011, 2:04 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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The scanner doesn't indicate any bad parts. It gives you specific observations by the computer and the tech has to determine what caused it. There are dozens of different codes that relate to oxygen sensors and rarely does it ever mean the sensor itself is bad. The guys at Autozone are wannabe techs with no training at all. All they are trained to do is sell parts and they don't do a very good job of that either sometimes.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 13, 2011, 2:05 PM)
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nickwarner
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Sep 13, 2011, 2:08 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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the problem is when you buy whatever sensor the code comes up on. They can scan it for you, but we need the exact code number as stated. The codes are an indicator to which system or cicuit has a defect. They are not a crystal ball saying what needs to be fixed. Post back with the code number and we can help. "Good" Autozone or not, none of these guys are trained techs as Hammer told you. If they were, they would work at a shop and make better money than they do at a parts store counter.
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MankindCRF
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Sep 13, 2011, 2:16 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Thanks for the advice guys, I feel a bit foolish making such mistakes in my quest to be more of a do-it-myselfer. It sounded like the code was specifically saying the oxygen sensor itself was bad, but now I know. I'll try to get the code in the next day or two, and reply with it. I'm a bit worried now, as the oxygen sensor was a cheap fix, I hope it's nothing major. The car has been driving perfectly fine, so maybe it's not so bad, cost wise to fix.
Oddly enough, it came on the day after my car was inspected. I know there are always stories about garages doing something fishy, but I don't believe they did anything on purpose to have that go off, especially since my car passed inspection and emmesions fine.
Would you happen to know IF the sensor was bad and replaced, would unhooking the battery reset the code, or does it have to be manually reset? Also since I unhooked my battery again this afternoon to work on my car, I may not have the check engine light so it may take a day or two for me to be able to get this done. This site is great.
(This post was edited by MankindCRF on Sep 13, 2011, 2:51 PM)
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2011, 2:50 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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How can you be sure that you even changed the same sensor the code referred to. The 0/2 os a reporting sensor so just because it reports something doesn't mean it caused it.
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MankindCRF
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Sep 13, 2011, 2:56 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Sadly I'm not sure at all, although I thought I was til I visited this forum. Both trips I was referred to change the intake oxygen sensor, and I am fairly sure there was only one. I may be making myself look even worse with that last sentence though, but it was wishful thinking on my end. I'll follow your advice, no doubt, and as soon as the check engine lights comes on I'll get it scanned, get the code# itself (I assume Autozone is good enough for this, I just won't let them diagnose it) and post the code here and let the real pros help me out.
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2011, 2:59 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Your car has a minimum of 2 sensors. Some cars have as many as 4.
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MankindCRF
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Sep 13, 2011, 3:22 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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From my searches, my car has two, one intake and one outtake.
Hopefully, I didn't mess up anything by attempting to unscrew the intake. Aren't they just supposed to screw on? I saw various youtube videos where they changed it via a wrench. Mine would just spin and spin. I spun it back the other way, so I'm hoping to have it on properly.
Is it normal for it to spin continuously? This is the intake sensor, located off the tubing that goes right to the air filter. I could spin it and spin it but nothing happened, I'd just like to make sure I didn't do any damamge (I doubt it). Thanks.
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2011, 4:09 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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It's not intake and outtake. It's upstream and downstream and they do entirely different jobs. The upstream assists with mixture decisions for the computer and the downstream monitors the Catalytic Converter efficiency. Some V type engine have 2 for each side of the engine.
They thread into the exhaust pipes so 3 or 4 complete turns counterclockwise and it should come out. The new one is threaded in until it tightens. Being in the exhaust pipe, they have a big tendency to seize so they should always be installed with special "anti seize" paste on the threads.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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MankindCRF
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Sep 14, 2011, 9:41 AM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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OK guys, I got the actual code from the scan yesterday, it is PO 113. Hopefully that is the accurate information you were looking for. Thank you!
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Hammer Time
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Sep 14, 2011, 11:18 AM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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I don't know how you got oxygen sensor from that. That code is for intake air temp sensor high voltage. It may not even be plugged in.
It's right in the intake snorkel.
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MankindCRF
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Sep 14, 2011, 2:13 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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The good news is I mispoke, and although I thought it was also called an oxygen or O2 sensor, that is 100% the part I bought, had my garage replace, and is still coming with my check engine light.
I tried to unscrew it myself to take a look and see if in fact they did swap out the part, or if I just got a faultly new intake air temp sensor. I figured I'd know instantly when I took it off as it would either look brand new or coroded. This is where my problem was in the first post, about it just spinning and spinning without coming out of that little grip no matter how many times I spin it as it doesn't even start to stick out farther.
Is there a "trick" to take it out other than just twisting counter-clockwise, and if after everything I change the sensor and the light STILL stays on, may I ask what the next step would be? Perhaps a bad wiring harness? Thanks all for the help.
EDIT- I had no problem at all taking that clipped plug in part the the sensor off, but once I had that off it would just spin and spin. It's only been on about a month so I wouldn't think it's stripped (wouldn't it just fall out then) but I felt I kept spinning it for a good minute or two without coming out. Also, when I spun it around to make sure it was on tight, it didn't get to a point where it would stop spinning when I was trying to make it tighter.
(This post was edited by MankindCRF on Sep 14, 2011, 2:28 PM)
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Hammer Time
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Sep 14, 2011, 2:59 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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It just pushes into the rubber hole. It will be easier to pull out if you leave the wire on it. Work it back and forth while pulling.
Apparently it was misdiagnosed and there may be a problem elsewhere in the circuit for that sensor. Having the code doesn't mean the sensor is automatically at fault. They have a lot of problems with the contacts in the plug itself and sometimes you need a new pigtail.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 14, 2011, 3:00 PM)
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MankindCRF
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Sep 14, 2011, 3:28 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Thanks Hammer Time! I think your work here is done, as I'm going to try to pop that sensor out, make sure it's the new one the garage put it, then it sounds like I'll leave it up to my family friend who works on cars to help me out. Only problem with him is it takes him like a month or so to help me out, but as my one last question I'd just like to verify that other than some possible MPG loss, I'm basically safe driving to and from work for the next month or two until I get it fixed? I'm sure you can tell my noob-ness I shouldn't be trying to re-wire a pigtail or anything like that, plus it sounds like a fairly cheap fix.
I've bookmarked this site, your advice is really top notch! Certainly takes the stress off at the end of the day when I see that light! 
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Hammer Time
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Sep 14, 2011, 3:41 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Rewiring a pigtail is really no big deal. You're just splicing 2 wires. The correct way to do it is to solder the wires and put heat shrink over them but many people use crimp connectors and heat shrink. You can pick up the pigtail at the dealer pretty cheap. Make sure you match up the wires to the correct side since the wires on the new pigtail will both be white.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 14, 2011, 3:42 PM)
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MankindCRF
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Oct 14, 2011, 9:59 AM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Hey guys, hope you don't mind me bumping this thread, but had another question now that I am back from my business trip. I'm going to first try to replace the senson to make sure I didn't get a bad one before I replace the pigtail. I also see that your really not supposed to remove that intake sensor when the car is hot.
The auto place is about 3-4 miles from my place, so my engine is going to be hot. Would I be able to:
A) take or the sensor, drive to the store, and replace when I get home when it cools off (I'm assuming that not having a sensor wouldn't hurt anything, but the hole would be open in that tube pictured above).
or
B) Carefully remove the sensor, even if hot?
I have a lifetime warrenty on the sensor, so I really don't want to buy another one, just to take it back, ect. Thanks gang.
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Hammer Time
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Oct 14, 2011, 12:56 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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You should do that with the engine cooled down.
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MankindCRF
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Oct 14, 2011, 1:10 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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Thanks! Would I be safe driving without this sensor for like an hour then? I could pop it out first thing in the morning, but I would still need to be able to drive to the store and back. I only have one car, so my only other option would be to do that, but don't want to ruin my car. It seems like those are my only two options, unless I have another car or can get someone to take me.
I should have stated option B involved removing while hot after I drive to the store to replace. I either have to take out, and drive to the store without the sensor in, or drive there, take it out in the parking lot, swap with the store and put the new one in before I leave.
(This post was edited by MankindCRF on Oct 14, 2011, 1:56 PM)
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Hammer Time
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Oct 14, 2011, 2:43 PM
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Re: 96 Chevy Cavalier, replaced intake oxygen sensor but check engine light still on
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No, you can't drive around with the sensor removed.
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