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O2 Sensor Question

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Old Dec 17, 2009 | 08:38 PM
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Default O2 Sensor Question

Hi All,

I have a 81 that has been converted to true duals with no cats installed, the ccc is still hooked up and functioning correctly. The car runs a little on the rich side and I'm wondering if I should be using the stock O2 sensors or should I be using something else? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated....Tim
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Old Dec 17, 2009 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Tim81
Hi All,

I have a 81 that has been converted to true duals with no cats installed, the ccc is still hooked up and functioning correctly. The car runs a little on the rich side and I'm wondering if I should be using the stock O2 sensors or should I be using something else? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated....Tim
If the original setup had the O2 sensors before the cats it would be a good idea to re-install them. Without the O2 inputs, the computer is going to run in 'open loop' mode and use a different fuel map. A rich mixture is safer for the engine than a lean one so I'm guessing you are running in open loop. When the O2s are in place the computer uses the inputs to adjust the fuel mixture more precisely so the mixture can be leaner. If the O2 sensors indicate the mixture is too lean the computer will richen the mix. This constant feedback and adjustment is 'closed loop' and that is what you probably want to be happening.



Rick B.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 12:24 AM
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I don't have any answers for you. I just have questions and food for thought that maybe someone else can shed some light on.

Was it converted from a Y pipe to duals? If so, I think every Y pipe I've seen has only had one O2 sensor in the common part of the pipe. With true duals, it seems like it would need two O2 sensors, but, is the CCC set up to handle two inputs? If not, would the CCC be able to handle having only one sensor on one of the duals? It just doesn't seem to me that that makes sense.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 07:28 AM
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The car still has the O2 sensors installed, one on each exhaust pipe in the original location as the car came stock. I believe the car came with two sensors but I'm not sure. I'm just wonder that with less back pressure are the sensors reading accurately. I've heard about people installing "wide band sensors" but I'm not sure what purpose that would serve. Thanks for your help Tim
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 09:39 AM
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All cars I know of from the early daze of EFI, through the early 90's had just one O2 sensor, typically in the pass bank/header/exhaust they figgered the driver's side was going along for the same measure....

but then in the early 90's they started putting dual then quad O2 sensors in, one before the cat and one after, on each side, or if just one cat...same thing only 2 of them....

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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 09:59 AM
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The O2 sensor only reads the oxygen in the exhaust system. With less back pressure you may have a drivability issue with the EGR system. Some EGR's run on back pressure and may not open if there is not enough back pressure. You should only have one O2 sensor on the car. If someone wired two O2 sensors together you could have problems. Also, make sure your air divert valve is working OK. If any unwanted air is going to the exhaust manifolds/headers your mixture will become rich. Is your check engine light on?
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 02:00 PM
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when you have less back pressure because of flowthru mufflers or open cat ,your o2 sensor may not heat up enough.the fix for that is to go to a heated sensor .you will need to run one wire to a key on power source to the sensor .
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 03:26 PM
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Tim81, i changed my 81 over last year to true duals without the cats. I left the stock O2 sensor (only One) on the drivers side. and i have had no problems at all.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 06:06 PM
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Wow, Now you got me wondering. I bought this car the way it is set up now. I'll look again but I'm sure there is a sensor on both right and left pipes about a foot below the header connection. I am not getting any chk engine lights and the car runs fine. The air pump has been removed and I'm thinking the egr has been disconnected. Maybe I should just leave well enough alone. Tim
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 08:28 PM
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check to make sure the EGR is connected. that could be the problem. I have also removed the air pump and the air lines on the exhaust manifolds. the CCC is working fine.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 10:27 PM
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Larry, The EGR is connected but not through the ccc. Its connected to a therm-switch like older models. With that said I still do not know if its working correctly. After the engine is warmed up doesn't the egr remained closed. Thanks for all your help......Tim
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 11:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Tim81
The car still has the O2 sensors installed, one on each exhaust pipe in the original location as the car came stock. I believe the car came with two sensors but I'm not sure. I'm just wonder that with less back pressure are the sensors reading accurately. I've heard about people installing "wide band sensors" but I'm not sure what purpose that would serve. Thanks for your help Tim
They came with one sensor in LH (drivers side) down pipe near manifold.
It is important to have the computer system work. If you need one I have a sensor that has less then 200 miles on it when it was removed along with the computer etc..
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 07:24 AM
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Only 1 came on the car on the drivers side. Sounds like it is in the correct place from your description. The EGR is Vac operated from a TVS on the intake manifold. If its running rich, yoyr operating O2 might have a problem, a new one will eliminate the problem. Get holf of a LM1 or something to get a real time measurement from the other side and see what its doing. You need to make sure the carb is correctly adjusted too.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 08:54 AM
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The sensor needs to be in the same location (is distance from the engine exhaust ports) as original, otherwise you will get problems.

You only need one.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 10:49 AM
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From my experience the 81 only came with 1 02 sensor located in the Y-pipe after they merge. Although a heated sensor may be the fix? You also need to consider the learning mode This sometime takes many hours of driving with the car running in all conditions. On my 82 I plan on using a dual in and dual out converter with an X-pipe in front where the O2 sensor will go. Good Luck
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 12:13 PM
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There wasn't a learning mode in the early CCC systems. They only had three goals to meet before going into closed loop operation. They were engine temperature, (about 180 degrees), O2 sensor going above .450 volts and about three minutes of running time. Then it would go into closed loop. Hook a dwell meter to the M/C solenoid test point(Green connector next to carb) and set meter on 6 cylinder scale. When CCC system goes into closed loop mode the dwell meter should read between 6-54 degrees (varying)Ideal reading should be varying around 30 degrees. That's the simple test. A more complete test will require more meters and theory of operation knowledge.
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Old Dec 19, 2009 | 06:00 PM
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"SSG26K" I have chk that M/C sol. adjustment and I have a reading pretty steady at 36 degrees. The needle does not vary much at all, however the reading will change if I turn the adjusting screw on top of the idle mixture sol. needle. Not sure if the steady reading is indicative of a problem or not. Thanks for your help....Tim
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