Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Diagnostic

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Volvo C70, 2001 Volvo C70, 2000 Volvo C70, 1999 Volvo C70, and 1998 Volvo C70. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Fig 1: Identifying Front And Rear Heated Oxygen Sensors

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

Two heated oxygen sensors (HO2S) are used in the Motronic 4.4. The heated oxygen sensors (HO2S) are checked for open and short-circuits as usual. If either of these faults occurs, diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-212 (front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S)) or EFI-153 (rear heated oxygen sensor (HO2S)) are stored. In addition, the signal from the front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) is checked. This check is carried out as follows.

The engine control module (ECM) receives exhaust composition data from the front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S). Using this information the engine control module (ECM) calculates injection period. Because the front sensor is located upstream of the three-way catalytic converter (TWC) it is subject to attack by the uncleaned exhaust gases. This leads to the sensor ageing and its signal changing

These changes are monitored by checking:

front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) mean signal voltage
rear heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) control
front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) period.

To determine front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) mean voltage the engine control module (ECM) uses the rear heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) signal. This signal provides information about the exhaust gas oxygen composition downstream of the catalytic converter. The engine control module (ECM) can use this information to take account of front sensor ageing in its injection period computations.

The mean rear sensor signal voltage should be approximately 0.6 V when twin heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) control is active. First the injection period is calculated on the basis of the front sensor signal. Then the mean rear sensor signal is calculated. If it is not 0.6 V the injection period calculations are adjusted so that the correct mean rear sensor signal will be achieved. When this adjustment exceeds a certain limit for a number of diagnostic tests, diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-436, rear heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) compensation, is stored.

When the engine is running the adjustment carried out by the rear heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) should be positive and negative, if not diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-425, rear heated oxygen sensor (HO2S), control, will be stored.

Fig 2: Identifying Front And Rear Heated Oxygen Sensors

Courtesy of VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA.

Twin heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) control starts and remains active when:

the front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) has started control
the rear heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) has reached operating temperature
catalytic converter temperature exceeds 112°C (calculated by the engine control module (ECM))
engine speed (RPM) is between 1500-2300 RPM
load is 1.2-3.0 ms (at 1.000 RPM), 1.6-3.0 ms (at 2.000 RPM).

Twin heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) control is suspended during fuel shut-off, if the engine control module (ECM) detects misfiring (diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) EFI-45X, EFI-543, EFI-545, EFI-55X) or if the engine control module (ECM) detects a fault in:

The EVAP system (diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-315)
three-way catalytic converter (TWC) (diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-443)
heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) preheating (diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-521 or EFI-522)
mass air flow (MAF) sensor (diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-121).

A defective sensor may also have the correct mean signal voltage. For this reason the front sensor period is also monitored. The engine control module (ECM) monitors how long it takes for the front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) to switch from rich to lean to rich again. This is carried out at part load, when the difference between a good and bad sensor is greatest. When the period becomes too long for a number of diagnostic tests, diagnostic trouble code (DTC) EFI-435 Front heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) slow response, is stored.