Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 08:51:33 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: OXS and battery light on intermitant
In-Reply-To: <20051013043617.12485.qmail@web31102.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
The only purpose of the OXS light is to let you know it's time to change
the O2 sensor.
The OXS light IS NOT connected to the the oxygen sensor itself.
The OXS light is not in any way connected to anything other that the
electrical system for power to turn the light on, and a speedometer
cable driven counter box underneath the front of the van.
A short speedometer cable comes off the left front wheel and goes to
and drives the counter just above the spare tire. From the counter there
is an electrical circuit that feeds power to the O2 sensor light. A
second speedometer cable comes out of the counter and goes to the
speedometer. When the counter registers either 30,000 miles or 60,000
miles - depending on the year of the vehicle - it trips a switch and
turns the OXS light on.
On top of the counter there is a reset button that sits in a little
recess. For ease of access, you can drop the spare tire, then use a
small screwdriver and depress this button to reset the counter. When you
do this, the light will go out and not come back on for another
30-60,000 miles, again depending on the year of your vehicle. If you do
this procedure, don't forget to change the O2 sensor. It's not like the
sensor dies exactly when the light comes on, but they do eventually give
up the ghost, and will affect your gas mileage long before they actually
quit working.
The fact that your light was covered by tape for some undertimined
period of time, the PO obviously didn't know how the thing worked. Who
knows how long the O2 sensor has been operating beyond it's useful
life. I would change the O2 sensor out NOW since the O2 sensor provides
the signal to the ECU to allow it to regulate the fuel mixture for best
economy. A used up O2 sensor is definitely NOT going ot help your gas
mileage - or power for that matter.
BTW, O2 sensors are relatively inexpensive if you get one that does not
have the pre-heater wires - about $40 - and generic ones do work. A
Ford O2 sensor will work on the Vans. However, I usually stick with
what our list vendors sell. The Bosch unit that is the stock item for
the vanagon comes with the long wires for the pre-heat elements and
costs about $120.The only reason for the pre-heat elements is to assist
the O2 sensor in getting to operating temperature faster as in when
there is a cold engine start which requires the engine to run more rich
until operating temperature is reached. . There is a small fuel savings
by doing this and over time it would add up. In addition, it helps
reduce smog.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Rod Knutson wrote:
>Hmmmmm.... as I read all the posts regarding the OXS
>light.. I just purchased my 85 Westy with a 92 Subaru
>conversion two weeks ago... I drove it from Ithaca NY
>to the West coast without problem other than it seems
>to lose power at odd times... Like right after I fuel
>it, under heavy load pulling mountains, under
>compression coming down mountains... It does not quit,
>just looses power like fuel starvation... If you back
>off or downshift it goes away.
>
>Secondly... Though I did not notice right
>away...someone has put a square of black tape over the
>OXS light... errrr.... maybe to hide it...sucker stays
>on all the time.... But, since I have the Suby
>conversion...not sure what that means... I have not
>had anyone check it out yet... comments anyone?
>Rod
>
>
>
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