Oxygen sensor on back order

[Vixen]

Day 7 at the shop.
What causes an oxygen sensor to go bad? I don't want them to just replace mine and then have it go bad again because they didn't get to the root of the issue. They probably know what they are doing and I could be completely off base by thinking something caused it to go bad but I have a hunch this is not all it is.

 

[Rotus8]

The usual failure comes from contamination, lead in the gas, or oil, or possibly over heating from a lean mixture. Or, most electronic devices exhibit a statistical failure rate called the "bathtub curve". Higher failure rates at the beginning of life (weeding out manufacturing errors/tolerance), then reduced failure rate, then increasing failures near end-of-life. It is possible your's is just a random defect.

 

[knowledge007]

As Rotus stated it could be random. My Sensor 1 on the TPMS has gone bad. They are supposed to last 10 years from what MazdaUSA has told me. I wouldn't worry about it. If it happens again then it would be something to look into. Not sure if everyone knows, but make sure they run the two updates on your PCM. I just got a second one Sat when I had my sensor replaced.

 

[Haltech]

Could be your turbo seal clogging the o2 sensor with junk, bad fuel as pointed out does this all the time as well as running to lean. Also, it can easily just be a bad sensor. If it was banged on the pipe by accident during assembly, that could have been the cause. At this point, you just dont know.

 

[Vixen]

Yeah I guess it's just a wait and see. I'm not getting too worked up about it, I just hope it doesn't take too long.
I wonder if they didn't make any extra sensors or if they are having a big run on them and that's why they are out of stock?? Do you think the sensor for the MS3 would be shared by other models?

 

[knowledge007]

Yes, they all perform the same function. Anyway, just be glad you are under warranty, those little suckers can put a hurtin in your pocket.

 

[Haltech]

Tell me about it. I did a longtube header install on my truck a few years ago. The guy helping me was banging the hell out of my sensors, spraying them with carb cleaner, etc.. Soon as i started the truck, CEL from mad hell, idle stumble, etc. Turns out, 3 sensors out of 4 damaged. End result, $344. Good thing he didnt touch my $500 wideband sensor!

Which sensor are they replacing btw?

 

[knowledge007]

If I am not mistaken I think her upstream sensor 1.

 

[Haltech]

Which ones is the wideband?

 

[Vixen]

Yeah I don't really know. I was just told "Oxygen Sensor". How many are there? 2?

 

[javanc]

there are 2. First one, the one on the top of the downpipe is wideband, the 2nd one right before the "testpipe/midpipe" is narrow band. That one should be cheaper, and its easier to get out. My bet is its the 1st one, hence the long wait.

 

[Andrade08]

Yeah......Your not alone. My Number one sensor went bad at like 450 miles. They told me they never saw it before. A few to three weeks later I called my sales guy for an oil change and he said they had 2 more 08 MS3 cars come in and just like mine the first O2 went on them before 800 miles.

 

[MS3-oholic]

Probably just a defective sensor. I have almost 20K on my car and haven't had any problems with mine.

 

[Vixen]

Yeah......Your not alone. My Number one sensor went bad at like 450 miles. They told me they never saw it before. A few to three weeks later I called my sales guy for an oil change and he said they had 2 more 08 MS3 cars come in and just like mine the first O2 went on them before 800 miles.

You 08'ers used them all up! You're to blame for the back order!! LOL.

 

[Vixen]

It's fixed! Just picked it up. Runs great! I feel whole again!
They shipped the sensor straight from Japan and put a rush on it just for me! Yay!! I wonder if that was really decaf coffee I just had!!
The service guy said that there are quite a few CX-7s with the same problem and that's why they are in low supply.