This all seem to have started about a year ago when my '96 LT4 got really hot in traffic due to a fan problem. It almost hit about 250 deg. before I could get it off the road. After I cut the engine and let it cool back down, I fired it back up and I had a check engine light with a rough idle. This turned out to be a bad oxygen sensor so I changed both old ones out (they were originals) with a set of new delcos. This fixed the problem and my Vette ran better than ever. Fast forward to June 2005. My Corvette got quite hot again and I cut it off (same fan issue which I thought I had fixed but didnt). I had the same issue which was a right bank 02 sensor going bad. I replaced this one with a Bosch from Auto Zone and then I was back running fine again. Shortly thereafter, I had a hot cam and EM longtubes installed on my Vette and I had to run it with open headers (not fun) from the install shop to a muffler shop who could do welding. The whole way there it was running terribly due to the extreme lean condition sensed at the O2 sensors. Had my exhaust welded up, and then I left the shop with the check engine light on. After checking the codes, it turns out that I have O2 sensor problems on both sides. As it is now, my Corvette isnt running really great.

What do you guys think is the problem? Will overheating burn out O2 sensors like this? Could running extremely rich with open headers have damaged my O2 sensors or maybe the shop damaged them when taking them out? Replacing oxygen sensors isnt particularly cheap since they are about $50 a piece so I'm looking for a solution. Maybe I just need to replace them both again and just hope this problem does not occur again? BTW, the fan problem is permanantly fixed, turned out to be the relay contacts and not the relay itself. Thanks so much for the help.

-Wes

 

Long tube headers do not provide enough heat for the sensors and some people use heated O2 sensors in that application.Bad news is they cost more and you will have to wire them.

 

Are the pre-cat O2 sensors in my '96 not already heated? I thought with it being OBD2 and everything these sensors were heated and I thought it was also the reason for these sensors costing so much (a sensor for the TBI 350 in my '88 K5 Blazer is only about $20). I could be wrong though and thats why I'm asking you guys. Anybody else have any input? Thanks for the replies.

-Wes