O2 Sensor vs. air/fuel sensor

Get your money back under warranty.
In the Canadian spec'd V6 there are 4 sensors total. 2 sensors ahead of the cats that are different than the 2 after.
All of this should be covered under the 8 year / no mileage emissions warranty if the vehicle fails an emissions test (which it will if it is throwing a code.) What is the U.S. emissions warranty?
 
Kmvreter said:
What is the U.S. emissions warranty?

Federal Emission Coverage: Components under the federal emission defect warranty are covered for 36 months/36,000 miles and specified major emission control components are covered for 8 years/80,000 miles. Specified major emission control components under emission performance warranty are also covered for 8 years/80,000 miles. In addition, emission performance warranty is applicable for 24 months/24,000 miles in states and local jurisdictions that require a periodic EPA-approved inspection and maintenance program.

California Emission Control Coverage: In California and any other state that adopts California emission warranty provisions, performance warranty and defect warranty coverage is applicable for 36 months/50,000 miles, and specific control devices are covered for 7 years/70,000 miles.
 
Uneek said:
... Specified major emission control components under emission performance warranty are also covered for 8 years/80,000 miles...

Are O2 & A/F sensors considered "specified major emission control components"? The wording in the Canadian warranty is very similar but I don't think they spell out what the specific components are.
 
Here are the major components off the EPA site. http://www.epa.gov/OTAQ/consumer/warr95fs.txt

What Are Specified Major Emission Control Components?

There are three specified major emission control components,
covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles of vehicle use on 1995
and newer vehicles:

* Catalytic converters.

* The electronic emissions control unit or computer (ECU).

* The onboard emissions diagnostic device or computer (OBD).

Catalytic converters are critical emission control components
that have been installed on most cars and trucks manufactured since
1975. Since engines don't burn fuel completely during the combustion
process, the exhaust contains a significant amount of harmful
pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and oxides of
nitrogen. The catalytic converter aids the conversion of these
pollutants to less harmful substances such as carbon dioxide, water
vapor, nitrogen, and oxygen before the exhaust is expelled into the
environment.

The electronic emissions control unit or computer monitors
certain powertrain functions and controls various operating parameters
to help the vehicle run efficiently and with the lowest possible
emissions. Ignition, transmission function, air injection, exhaust
gas recirculation (EGR), engine operating temperature and fuel system
parameters are some of the systems monitored and/or controlled by the
electronic emissions control unit.

The onboard emissions diagnostic device monitors the operation of
a vehicle's emission control system and alerts the driver with a
dashboard light when malfunctions occur. The system will record where
the problem is occurring and assist automotive technicians in
diagnosing and repairing emission control malfunctions. Since some
emission control malfunctions do not have an adverse effect on vehicle
performance, they can go undetected by the driver for quite some time.
The onboard diagnostic device will help catch malfunctions early,
preventing a significant output of harmful exhaust emissions from your
vehicle, and possibly in time to be covered by the emissions control
warranty. Often this "device" is part of the electronic control unit
mentioned above.
 
phil123,
Good find on that info.
I stand corrected. Good to know but it sucks that the sensors aren't covered.
 
Update!

UPDATE!

I got a discount for the A/F Sensor at a Toyota dealer ($175 + tax) and installed it. I took my 4Runner to the Smog station for the free re-test and it passed with flying colors!
 
Re: Update!

el_chapu-bling said:
UPDATE!

I got a discount for the A/F Sensor at a Toyota dealer ($175 + tax) and installed it. I took my 4Runner to the Smog station for the free re-test and it passed with flying colors!

Ok, I passed the Smog test, but this morning my Check Engine light came on with no apparent change in the "feel" of my 4Runner! What gives?

I have to take it again to get it diagnosed. This is getting very frustrating, not because the truck is undrivable, but because of the money I have to spend to get little things fixed on it!
 
Guys an 02 sensor and air/fuel sensor do the same thing but in two completely different ways. It would not be a good thing to switch them. An 02 sensor has a signal from .1 to .9 volts and is constantly switching up and down in that range. .1 being lean (not enough gas) to rich (to much gas) as represented as .9 and the signal is very slow.

An air/fuel sensor does not switch it has a flat line signal from 2.4 - 4 volts and moves much faster.

Now with all that being said these cars computers are so good that your car will still run ok b/c it will get ride of the garbage or out of range inputs and use a predetermined set of inputs and use other sensors like your map or maf to control how much fuel to add. In the end you will be left with a check engine light and car that isn't running as well.

also it takes a lot to turn on the engine light. toyota doesn't like to see its cars with it on.

hint hint.... I used to be a toyota tech now hyundai tech
 
Last edited:
Re: Re: Update!

el_chapu-bling said:
Ok, I passed the Smog test, but this morning my Check Engine light came on with no apparent change in the "feel" of my 4Runner! What gives?

I have to take it again to get it diagnosed. This is getting very frustrating, not because the truck is undrivable, but because of the money I have to spend to get little things fixed on it!

Code P0420

Bad Catalytic Converter

Now I need to find one that meets California Emissions...
 

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