oxygen sensor idiot light...
 

Hey, took a decent length trip in my '86 XJ6 this weekend, ~5 hours one way. No issues on the way there. As you well know, it did great on the highway. I ran between 70~80 mph most of the time. On the way back the Oxygen Sensor light came on. Does this truly mean my oxygen sensor is bad, or could it it also mean something else?

Car has ~116K miles on her, and I don't know if the sensor has ever been replaced. Car didn't seem to run any different after the light came on, and she delivered me back home with no issues. All aux. gauges looked normal.

As always, thanks for the help,

Eric

I had this happen as well with a newer O2 sensor. Took it back to Autozone, they gave me a new one and I reset the light (in the trunk) and have not had an issue in 2000 miles. Sometimes you can get a bad one out of the box.

Yeah, just reset the "intervalmeter" in the trunk. It's on the forward bulkhead, roughly 3"-4" square, you'll see a small hole. Use a nail or similar to push the reset button. You'll hear a click. Repeat in 30k miles :-)

The system has no idea whatsover if the sensor is good or bad. It operates on "miles driven"


Cheers
DD

Doug, Thank you for your post explaining the intervalmeter. I replaced a damaged O2 sensor today, only to find that the Oxygen sensor light stayed on. I hit the reset button and no more problem. I have half a mind to hard-wire that reset button to a big-old Staples Easy button and mount it somewhere on the dash. I wish all these electrical problems were as easy as pushing a button.

Best Regards!

Jay Hieb

I just bought an '86 XJ6 and the O2 sensor light came on during my drive home with the car. The odo also crossed 48,280 km on that drive, which just happens to be 30,000 miles. Thanks for the tip, Doug.

Well, at lump time, it became a great place to hook up the "check engine" light.
Fellow lumper Bob Luft made a transparency on his printer. The little housing pops aout and comes apart. Swap a part or two and a very professional light results.

I still wonder about a way to check O2 sensors. In my motivated desire to get a care free conversion, I installed two new ones. After a harness misadventure, things are ducky.

Recently had this happen to my car as well just as it rolled over to 96K. Thought I'd take a photo to clear it up for anyone still not sure where the reset switch/trigger is.

It's the white plunger in this photo. As stated above, neither the car nor the ignition need to be engaged for the reset to prevent the oxygen sensor light from being illuminated.

The O2 sensor light on the dash is not just for the 02 sensor, it is a reminder that it's time to do routine maintenance. when it lights-up - always do a reset before buying a new sensor ... usually the dash light will stay off.
i forget how many miles of driving it takes to have the warning (02 sensor) light to come on. modern automobiles have a 'Check Engine' warning light ... same thing.

Not really the same thing, actually. :)

On these old Jags the oxygen sensor light is triggered by an interval counter....it simply measures miles (30,000 in this case) and triggers the light to come on. Doesn't matter if the sensor is good or bad...the interval counter has no way of knowing... the light just comes on.

A check engine light comes on when the on board diagnostic system (not used on the older Jags) detects a fault....with the oxygen sensor or any number of monitored systems/components.

Cheers
DD

84 O2 Sensor Reset Location
 

I found this thread about turning the sensor off on the dash lotsmof info. So I go to check in the trunk & I don't see a box that looks similar to the picture posted, is it in a different location on the 84' model?

in my1984 it is a black box mounted to the left of the sunroof motor, (which happens to be at the center), on a vertical metal support where the plastic screw that holds the upholstered panel screws into.

also mine has a white sticker that reads "XKE".

Found the o2 sensor & reset it! Attachment 155954

Gadgetry exists in a lot of places.


My94 Jeep has a "service" panel" When all is right, it counts off time to service,starting at 3000. It also tells me about bulb out and door ajar and some other stuff, including the time of day. Fiddly to reset. I have to get out the manual each time!! Or just ignore it!!


It's back in my drive. Daughter took back her Passat. Says she has formed an attachment for the Jeep. Apparently, the Passat with all it's dodads, lacks the functionality of the Beetles that served her so well in the past!! And, the virtuyally indestructible Pinto powered Ford Ranger pickup!!


Carl

Quote:
Originally Posted by philipE View Post
The O2 sensor light on the dash is not just for the 02 sensor, it is a reminder that it's time to do routine maintenance. when it lights-up - always do a reset before buying a new sensor ... usually the dash light will stay off.
i forget how many miles of driving it takes to have the warning (02 sensor) light to come on. modern automobiles have a 'Check Engine' warning light ... same thing.

Not really the same thing, actually.

On these old Jags the oxygen sensor light is triggered by an interval counter....it simply measures miles (30,000 in this case) and triggers the light to come on. Doesn't matter if the sensor is good or bad...the interval counter has no way of knowing... the light just comes on.

A check engine light comes on when the on board diagnostic system (not used on the older Jags) detects a fault....with the oxygen sensor or any number of monitored systems/components.

Cheers
DD

WHAT ... That IS what I SAID !!!

He,he! that's what I thought Doug said. In fact, I thought it was a quirky repost!!


Went on errands in the Jeep yesterday. the "tattle tale panel" lit up. Low washer fluid.
it also advises of open doors and dark lamps and a bunch other stuff as well as counting off the 3000 mile service interval.


I was going to mess around in the garage. Yowee, cold outside, but colder in the garage. Nope, nothing critical there.


Carl

The 'quote' part got a little mixed up on his posting, that's all. Took a minute to recognize what was going on. But, since we're here, I'll have another run at explaining what I was trying to say....which perhaps wasn't very clear

Cheers
DD

Since it activates every 30k miles I guess a person could consider it to be a reminder to do routine servicing. The original intention, however, was to specifically signal replacement of the oxygen sensor and not as a reminder for general routine services....many of which should be done on much shorter intervals

But....in this case oxygen sensor replacement could be considered 'routine maintenance' since Jaguar wanted us to replace it every 30k miles.




Unless the interval counter is faulty the light WILL stay off for 30,000 miles.

I'm sure many perfectly good sensors were replaced as the result of this warning light as there is nothing on the car that knows how well the sensor is or isn't working. The light simply comes on every 30k miles.



30,000




The check engine light on modern cars is part of an on board diagnostics system. The on board diagnostic systems monitor the actual operation of the various sensors, fuel injection system, etc The Check Engine Light comes on when an fault is detected.

OTOH....The interval counter on the older Jags such as we're discussing does not monitor the operation of anything at all. It merely measure miles driven. It simply turns on the warning light every 30,000 miles.

Both systems use a warning light but, other than that, they really are not the same thing

Cheers
DD

HellO All...

I have a 1990 V12 XJS... Anyone know where the kill switch is on this car?

Kill switch???


Or the inertia switch. In case of a severe impact, it shuts down the fuel pump.


Unfortunately, I don't know where it is on the XJS. try that forum.
On my SIII, it is on the right front "A" post.


Way back when, I leanred where it was on my 88 Tbird. I was rear eneded on the freeway. Pretty good "shot'. the engine quit. I coated off to the shoulder. Luckily, there was a generous shoulder. After the CHP did the info swap, he helped me find the switch. We read the manual. a quaint thing, hum!!! In the boot, behind a trim piece. We were both pleased. His "civilian" ride a contemporary Mustang. Each car on the Fox platform. So now he would keep the manual handy. And read up on it, as well!!! Nice guy., And the guy that hit me. stood tall apologized and admitted it was his fault. Kinda rare, huh.


Carl

I meant the kill switch for the 02 sensor...