Oxygen Simulator Problems
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 17
From: Miami Fl
Oxygen Simulator Problems
Need your help! Had my cats emptied and "standard" O2 simulators put in and within 1.5 days got a check engine light, the guys at the shop ( "specializing in GM perf, former Chev mechanics who race) scanned the car with a GM scanner and it told them one of the O2 sims was bad. It was replaced with another, and within 1.5 days the check engine light was on again (normal car function as predicted by the shop). This time it was the other side. Now have been back 4 times with a change of O2 sim each time with a light coming on in 1 1/2 days. I'm beginning to not trust these guys. They said only 1/10 sims goes bad!! What's going on? When I asked them for the "brand" I was buying they said it was a generic thing and that they preferred not to give out names and addresses since the manufacturing is not really legal. Any ideas? Please help
[Modified by urslooow, 8:26 AM 1/6/2003]
[Modified by urslooow, 8:26 AM 1/6/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (urslooow)
Have them reprogram out the codes with LS1-Edit or something like it..
My O2 sims died 3 weeks after installing...
I got rid of them and got LS1-Edit.. NO codes... :D
My O2 sims died 3 weeks after installing...
I got rid of them and got LS1-Edit.. NO codes... :D
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 17
From: Miami Fl
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (chuckster)
chuckster, how many times did you try replacing the O2 sims? Did you ever find out why the O2 sims did not work? I'm not quite sure how these things work or why they should go bad? Ls-1 edit removal sounds expensive my other full dyno tuning was around $500
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (urslooow)
I never did replace em.. I just drove with the check light on till I reprog'd
The Simms are just some cheap electronic parts designed to produce the desired signal the PCM is looking for.. I think the heat of the exhaust system kills them..
The Simms are just some cheap electronic parts designed to produce the desired signal the PCM is looking for.. I think the heat of the exhaust system kills them..
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,154
Likes: 1
From: Murphy TX
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (urslooow)
Which codes are you seeing?
Seeing a "throw a code, change a part" service strategy generally makes me nervous. :skep: Nothing like treating the symptom to not get an issue resolved. :cuss
[Modified by ToplessTexan, 8:45 AM 1/6/2003]
Seeing a "throw a code, change a part" service strategy generally makes me nervous. :skep: Nothing like treating the symptom to not get an issue resolved. :cuss
[Modified by ToplessTexan, 8:45 AM 1/6/2003]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 17
From: Miami Fl
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (ToplessTexan)
Finally called Ernie at Breathless which is what I should have done in the first place, but I was a little embarassed to bring him the car after having some work done somewhere else. Ernie said with my setup and programming that the chk engine light has to be programmed out. I then called the guys that did the work and they insist that we're just having bad luck with the sims. They did offer to refund my money on the sims if I opt to reprogram. Has anyone heard of this ox sim problem with custom programed c5's? Can I take out the sims after reprogramming?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
Likes: 20
From: Palm City Florida
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (urslooow)
There are 2 ways to program out the O2's
1. Turn off Check engine Light if a fault Occurs during the Test
2. Turn off the Test Completelty
Sounds like they only turned off the Light but the fault code still stores in the PCM
1. Turn off Check engine Light if a fault Occurs during the Test
2. Turn off the Test Completelty
Sounds like they only turned off the Light but the fault code still stores in the PCM
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 39
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (chuckster)
I know a guy, we'll call him Joe...because that's his name. Joe has O2 sims and they work fine with his gutted cats. Now Joe doesn't thrash his C5 like I do, but he's not had any heat/failures as of the last time I spoke with him.
Here is my concern with not making the O2 sims work: I live in a state where they do emission testing and they are going to stop sniffing tailpipes. The new methods will be to plug an OBD II in and get readings from the sensors.
If the sims don't work and/or you program the error out, won't you be screwed on the emission test?
Here is my concern with not making the O2 sims work: I live in a state where they do emission testing and they are going to stop sniffing tailpipes. The new methods will be to plug an OBD II in and get readings from the sensors.
If the sims don't work and/or you program the error out, won't you be screwed on the emission test?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,960
Likes: 135
From: Maryland
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (Gary2KC5)
My sims ran for about a year, then one crapped out. I replaced them and one of the new sims was bad out of the box. I'm waiting for another set of replacements......
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 17
From: Miami Fl
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (Gary2KC5)
In Fla the vettes passed emissions without the sims! Now w/o emissions no worries. you could be screwed for emissions testing I probably would not have done it if I had to pass emissions. There is a very noticeable difference w/o cats with a SC C5 that has full exhaust upgrades.
I know a guy, we'll call him Joe...because that's his name. Joe has O2 sims and they work fine with his gutted cats. Now Joe doesn't thrash his C5 like I do, but he's not had any heat/failures as of the last time I spoke with him.
Here is my concern with not making the O2 sims work: I live in a state where they do emission testing and they are going to stop sniffing tailpipes. The new methods will be to plug an OBD II in and get readings from the sensors.
If the sims don't work and/or you program the error out, won't you be screwed on the emission test?
Here is my concern with not making the O2 sims work: I live in a state where they do emission testing and they are going to stop sniffing tailpipes. The new methods will be to plug an OBD II in and get readings from the sensors.
If the sims don't work and/or you program the error out, won't you be screwed on the emission test?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 17
From: Miami Fl
Re: Oxygen Simulator Problems (urslooow)
Went to Breathless yesterday and today again because the chk engine light cam back on. 11034 code. Ernie said that the computer sometimes "learns" about the sims and causes codes to be spit out. I've never heard of this but I'm no C5 mechanic either! Ernie programmed out the offending bank of O2 sensors yesterday and the other side promptly spit out codes later in the day after I drove the 40 miles home of course. So after working all last nite I had to go back for a 15 min correction, so far so good.
From what I hear O2 sims are not very reliable and the proper and more expensive remedy is to program the codes out. Oh and leave the cats alone if you need to pass emissions unless you really know what you are doing. thanks guys!
From what I hear O2 sims are not very reliable and the proper and more expensive remedy is to program the codes out. Oh and leave the cats alone if you need to pass emissions unless you really know what you are doing. thanks guys!