1999 Honda Civic Dirty O2 sensors?

Tiny
HDR2ND
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 129,000 MILES
A few years ago, I accidently put too much oil in my car and she apparently threw it up all over under the hood. Ever since then my engine light has been on and diagnostics say its my O2 sensors. I've had them replaced 3 times in 6 years (right before inspection) and the light always comes back on a day or two later. Could there be some oil residue left where the sensors go that could be affecting them?
Sunday, September 7th, 2008 AT 12:58 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
I would suspect that the connectors to the O2 sensors are contaminated with oil.
You may have to take the sensors connecters off (as well as all that were contaminated) and clean them with electronics cleaner.

If any oil got into the intake, the burning oil could contaminate the O2 sensors.
You may have ruptured a seal, do you have any blue smoke out the exhaust? Either on start up or when running?
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Monday, September 8th, 2008 AT 6:03 AM
Tiny
HDR2ND
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
There's no blue smoke at all. If there was a ruptured seal I think it was replaced after the oil incident first happened. As soon as I noticed the problem I went to the garage and had the problem taken care of, or so I thought. Can I purchase electronics cleaner at my local autoparts store?
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Monday, September 8th, 2008 AT 1:23 PM
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Yes you can buy it at any auto parts store, it is similar to brake clean, it removes contaminants and leaves no residue.
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 AT 5:47 AM

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