Most Common Signs of Oxygen Sensor Failure in Your Volkswagen from Experts in Mill Valley

Among the various cars that you get to see on the road, there are a few brands that have kept their legacies alive through constant innovation and the adaption of new technologies. One such automobile brand is Volkswagen. From the Bettle to the new Jetta, Polo, Passat and many new models Volkswagen is a name to be reckoned with other cars.

Your Volkswagen comes equipped with many advanced features that help in its smooth running and better performance. People are often aware of about the engine, transmission and other electrical systems in their VW. However, apart from these, there are many sensors in your car that monitor vital functions.

One such sensor is the oxygen sensor that plays a critical role in the combustion process of your car. The oxygen sensor in your car is used to measure the oxygen levels in the exhaust gas exiting the engine. This information is used by the Powertrain control module to find out the correct air to fuel ratio for the combustion process in real time.

If the oxygen sensor malfunctions, then you are going to face serious issues in your VW. Here in this article, we will discuss the signs of oxygen sensor failure in your Volkswagen.

Problems in the engine

The engine is the most important part of your Volkswagen. It provides the required power for the car to move and for the proper functioning of the engine an adequate ratio of air to fuel is required for proper combustion process to take place.

However, a malfunctioning oxygen sensor is going to play spoilsport and will disrupt the regular chain of activity within the engine which will affect the performance of the car. Due to inadequate air to fuel ratio, your engine is going to misfire, run rough & irregularly when idling.

Since the oxygen sensor output, helps control engine timing, combustion intervals, and the air to fuel ratio, a bad sensor can affect these engine functions, which leads to rough or irregular engine idle. Furthermore, you will notice that the acceleration doesn’t pick up when you press the gas pedal.

Illumination of check engine light

There are many advanced features in your Volkswagen that warn you about potential issues in your car. One such system is the check engine light. If there is any kind of interference with the normal combustion process of the engine, the engine control module tries to correct it.

Nonetheless, if the oxygen sensor is not functioning properly, the engine control module won’t be able to correct the problem. As a result, the performance of your VW will take a hit. The module then detects some kind of problem in the car and activates the check engine light.

However, As soon as the check engine light gets turns on, you must get in touch with a professional automotive technician to diagnose the issue. This is because, the warning light can get illuminated for many different reasons, so it is important to have it looked at by a professional who can find out the exact cause.

Poor fuel economy

The oxygen sensor in your Volkswagen is responsible for monitoring the amount of air entering the vehicle which helps in regulating the air to fuel ratio in the engine. If there is any kind of failure to keep these two components at the recommended ratio, then this will change the fuel delivery & fuel-burning process.

This often leads to rich air and fuel mixture in any of the combustion cylinders and results in more fuel being present than the air. The malfunctioning oxygen sensor is unable to detect this problem and thus it leads to poor fuel economy in your car.

Emissions test failure

Volkswagen has been in the constant eye of the storm when it comes to emissions. The company found itself in the middle of controversy related to issues in the emission detection software used in the car. You need to be doubly careful when issues related to emission crop up.

If the oxygen sensor fails, then it is not able to assist in the emissions control of the car. If you live in a state which requires regular emissions testing, then you will find that your Volkswagen flunks the test. This might be related to the bad oxygen sensor in your car.

Finally

The above-discussed factors are associated with the malfunctioning oxygen sensor in your Volkswagen. Most of the time it is seen that people tend to neglect these symptoms in their initial phases which worsens the issue. If you observe these symptoms, then take your Volkswagen to a certified repair shop for replacing the oxygen sensor.

Masters European and Japanese Auto Repair shop is Mill Valley’s #1 European and Japanese auto repair facility in the entire area. We are one of the most sought after auto repair shops because of our performance, high safety standards.