How to Disable an O2 Sensor
by Zyon Silket
Oxygen sensors, commonly called O2 sensors, measure the air/fuel mixture, as it burns in your engine. The O2 sensor helps to ensure proper pollution levels are maintained. If you like to tinker with your car, or add performance parts to increase horsepower, such as a larger throttle body, nitrous or even headers, the O2 sensor will likely tell the ECU the engine is producing too much pollution and the "Check Engine" light will illuminate. It could also cause the ECU to recalibrate and hinder your efforts to add horsepower to your car. To avoid this, you can disable your O2 sensors.
Step 1
Locate the O2 sensors on your vehicle. Every vehicle has at least one O2 sensor but most have four. Inspect both exhaust manifolds and inspect the down tube extending out of the exhaust manifolds. You will likely find one sensor in each manifold and down tube. The O2 sensor looks like a white spark plug and has a green wire extending out of the top of it.
Step 2
Follow the green wire from the O2 sensor, and locate the wiring harness that connects to it.
Step 3
Unplug the O2 sensor from the wiring harness, and tie the green wire into a loop.
References
- "Chevrolet S10, GMC Sonoma 1994-2004, Chevy Blazer, GMC Jimmy 1995-2004, Olds Bravada, Isuzu Hombre 1996-2001 Repair Manual"; Robert Maddox, John H. Haynes; 2005
- " Hyundai Sonata 2.4L Four-Cylinder, 2.5L V6, 2.7L V6, 3.3L V6 Repair Manual 1999-2008"; Tim Imhoff, John H. Haynes; 2008
- BobBlick: What is an O2 sensor
Tips
- You can remove the O2 sensor from the vehicle with a wrench, but you must have a plug to thread into the O2 sensor bung, to keep exhaust gasses from escaping the manifold or pipe.
Things You'll Need
- Wrench set (optional)
Warnings
- If you remove or disable your O2 sensor, you will not pass state vehicle emissions testing, as this modification is routinely used by those using their vehicles for off-road or track racing purposes.
Writer Bio
Since 2006 Zyon Silket has been writing for companies such as SEOWhat, L&C Freelancing and T-Mobile Wireless. He has extensive experience working in supervisory roles within the wireless and Internet technologies fields. Silket is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in business management and network technologies at Lehigh Carbon Community College.
