Hey everyone.. I own a 1997 Z28 Camaro. It has SLP headers, Corsa catback, Moroso intake with k & n air filter. I had the SES light come on so I went and got it checked out and it's coming up as Bank 2 sensor 2. I know this is the downstream, as I've already changed all the upstream. I was wondering if anyone knew which side the sensor is on, and if anyone knows if it's the same plug adapter as in the front. (I can't see the plugs because the heat shield's in the way.) I gutted out the cat because I thought it had been clogged and it seemed to be, as there was a decent amount of carbon build up. Sometime's the car runs fine and sometimes it acts up.. I'll get a hesitation in acceleration and sometime's it will idle at around 800rpms instead of 1k like it's supposed to. I'm assuming that the bad o2 is directly correlated to this problem.


Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone

 

Bank 2 is the passenger's side sensor; and you are correct that sensor 2 is the after-cat sensor.

The after cat sensor is only used to determine if the cat is functioning, it is not used at all for setting mixture. So this would not cause any drivability issues. Your stumbling is being caused by something else.

The rear O2 sensors use a different connector than the front.

Since you gutted the cat out, the sensor is probably not faulty. It is most likely throwing the code because it is not seeing a difference in O2 readings between the sensor 1 and 2. To resolve this, plug an O2 simulator into the wiring harness for Bank 2 Sensor 2 and just leave the O2 sensor in the exhaust pipe to keep the hole sealed .... or you can replace the cat?

Thomas.

 

ahh, i see. I think maybe it's time for a complete tune-up anyway, the car is coming close to 95,000. The oil is fresh but I think all the filters and sensors need to be replaced. Thanks for the input though.

 

Typical tune-up items are plugs, spark plug wires, fuel filter and cleaning your air filter. I don't suggest you change out sensors unless something points to them being bad. O2 are the exception but it sounds like you've already replaced the front ones. Also a good time to look at your front suspension components for excessive wear (ball joints, tie rod ends, bushings, rag joint).

 

Just to make sure my post was clear, changing the sensor(s) will not fix this; neither will a tune up. You will need to replace the cat or install O2 simulators to fix it.

Just wanted to make sure you know that changing the sensor will not fix your code.

Thomas.

 

no i realize that the sensor isn't going to fix my code.. the diagnostic machine said i have a misfire (makes sense about the bad gas mileage) I think i'm going to order the o2 sims and have someone else do the tune up because it really is a pain to get to the plugs with the SLP headers I have on there.. no room at ALL =/

 

I dont believe the PCM uses the rear o2 for ANYTHING and thats why its ok to use a sim on the rear o2 when you remove the cat ect...

 

As stated above, the PCM uses the rear O2 to predict a catalytic converter failure. I believe this is federally mandated by OBD II requirements on 1996 and up cars. The PCM compares the rear O2 sensor's reading with the front O2 sensor's reading to try and predict when a cat is going to fail.

It's ok to use a sim because the sim just tells the PCM false readings, and the PCM believes the cats are doing their job (even if you don't have any).

Thomas.