What makes your Volkswagen special is not just its attractive looks and fancy body. Your car depends on various components to work together to keep its engine running. And what’s a beautiful car without a working engine?
The O2 sensor is one of the important components in your car that plays a crucial role in ensuring that the engine runs efficiently. However, this sensor can get faulty and you need to know what signs to look out for so you can find a solution for its faults. Without a working sensor, your car’s engine is prone to failure.
More about the O2 Sensor
The O2 Sensor, also known as the oxygen sensor, is an important component of your Volkswagen’s emission system. It helps to monitor the exhaust gasses from your car’s system and determines the efficiency of the engine based on these gases.
An engine runs smoothly when the air-fuel mixture is in the right ratio. However, if there is an imbalance in this ratio, it affects the engine’s combustion process, leading to harmful emissions and eventually, engine failure. Hence, the O2 sensor monitors the emissions and sends signals to correct any imbalance in the mixture so the engine can run smoothly.
If this sensor fails, here are some signs you will notice:
“Check Engine” Light Comes On
This is one of the top signs that tells you to look into your engine and a faulty oxygen sensor can trigger this light to come on. With a bad sensor, your Engine’s function is compromised and this results in an illuminated check engine light on your dashboard.
Strong Odors from the Exhaust
Another common sign of an O2 sensor failure in your car is bad or strong odors from your car’s exhaust. A faulty oxygen sensor can let excess unburned fuel into the car’s exhaust, and this causes unpleasant odors like the smell of gasoline in your car.
Decreased Engine Performance
If you notice that your Volkswagen’s engine starts to misfire or rough idle, then it shows that there is a problem with the car’s engine. One of the culprits you can look at is a faulty or failed oxygen sensor.
A working O2 sensor helps the engine perform at optimal capability. However, once this sensor fails, the engine may start to malfunction. You would need an expert’s help to correctly diagnose the issue with the engine.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
The fuel economy or efficiency of your vehicle is also another pointer to help you identify if your car’s oxygen sensors are working fine. If you notice that you have been taking more frequent trips to refuel your car, then you may need to check the oxygen sensor.
A bad O2 sensor can cause an engine to run rich (excess fuel) or lean(insufficient fuel in the air-fuel mixture), both of these situations make a car burn more fuel than needed in the long run.
Problem Starting Car
As stated earlier, the oxygen sensors help to ensure that the air-fuel mixture in your car is right. Your car needs this mixture at an optimal level for it to run smoothly. Hence, if the O2 sensors stop working, then your car could have a problem starting.
Tips to Handle O2 Sensor Failures in Your Volkswagen
- Ensure you fix a faulty oxygen sensor immediately or it could damage your car’s catalytic converter and eventually the engine.
- Replace all sensors in your car if you have to replace one. This helps to ensure optimal engine performance.
- Avoid using low-quality fuel.
- Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on fuel type, maintenance, and repair actions.
- Ensure that you service the engine routinely.
- If you need to repair or replace your Volkswagen’s oxygen sensors, you should let a professional handle it.
The Top Auto Repair Shop in Royal Oak for Oxygen Sensor Issues
Your Volkswagen deserves the best care 
and services to help it run smoothly and work efficiently for you. One of the ways to take care of your VW is to use our trusted auto repair shop. Autohaus Sales and Service is the best auto shop in Royal Oak! Our services extend to car owners in and around Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, and Troy, MI.