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Neither my 79 SIII or my 87 SIII have an Oxygen sensor warning light on the dashboard. The owners manual shows that there should be one below and to the right of the speedometer. The reason I ask, a wire fell off my O2 sensor, the car ran rough and got poor mileage. After I noticed it and plugged it back in I thought it odd that the indicator lights did not notify me. Am I correct that there is no O2 warning light and also no "check engine" light, in othere words, no warning at all of O2 failure?
I should add the the sensor warning light has nothing to do with actual sensor operation. It was designed to come on every 30k miles to remind you to replace the sensor.....which, in reality, isn't required.
I stand corrected. The 79 SIII did have an O2 indicator light. I just went down in the basement and checked the original dashboard and it does have a spot hole for it. I guess when I installed the new one it did not have a hole so I must have left it unmounted behind the new dashboard. My memory is the second or third thing to go, I guess.
I find it amazing that there was no monitoring of the pollution control system in these cars. In the 70s and 80s in the US emissions controls were such a big deal. And some modern cars light up if the gas cap isn't on tight.
My original dashboard (86 VDP) has the light and wiring.
I have replaced the faded dash, (with one that had a nicer burl pattern on it) - the dash I used did not have the wires or a hole for the O2, so my car has the abandoned "stuff".
I have been thinking about creating a hole for it for years.. But I am one of those who replace items like o2 sensors / belts / hoses / before they fail. So the light would probably never be activated. There is a reset button in the boot somewhere IIRC
. There is a reset button in the boot somewhere IIRC
Right! The reset is a small button on the 'interval counter'.
On cars with the electric speedometer the interval counter is in the boot on the forward bulkhead. On models with the cable-driven speedometer the counter is in the engine bay near the firewall, with two speedo cables, one to the transmission and the other to the speedometer
I find it amazing that there was no monitoring of the pollution control system in these cars. In the 70s and 80s in the US emissions controls were such a big deal. And some modern cars light up if the gas cap isn't on tight.
In the very earliest days of oxygen sensors on American cars....1977-78 or so.... the arrangement was the same--- no 'monitoring' of the sensor. Just a periodic replacement with a reminder light.
Big car companies had the means to move forward in technology. Poor old Jaguar often lagged behind. Crawl through the innards of a Series III and you'll find lots of antiquated stuff. Thus they are known as "the most modern of all antique automobiles"....and that's why we love 'em
Going to try the "new" elaborate post method once more!!
My 83 had the O2 sensor and the light on the fascia when it had the DOHC. Dark during the time I drove it in that configuration.
When I took it apart the sensor was quite loose in the pipe!! I have a strong idea, it did little more than plug up a hole in the exhaust. No big deal, the car ran great.
Then came the years long lump project. With the able assistance of Bob Loftus, the dash part became "check engine". Needed to please the CA SMOG referee. he was impressed !!!
11-03-2018, 03:30 PM
Where is my O2 warning light?
