You can test the O2 sensor out of the engine, and I tried it, but could never get it to work.
I"ve read that you should clamp the sensor down and use a voltometer. Positive to the sensor wire, and ground to the base (bolt area) of the sensor. Use a propane torch, and heat the tip of the sensor untill it turns red, making sure that the heat is blowing inside the sensor. You should get a reading on the voltometer that it's producing a voltage.
If so, when you move the sensor in and out of the flame, the meter rating should change slightly. If not, it's probably bad. If it does, it's probably working.
In my case, I couldn't get a brand new sensor that works in my car, to do "anything" with this test. So. Who knows.
Saturday, March 25th, 2006 AT 11:41 PM