Rough idle, Upstream O2 issue. Suggestions/Help please
07-22-2013, 05:24 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rough idle, Upstream O2 issue. Suggestions/Help please
Car Info:
2004 RX8
MT
Purchased at 34k miles, 2 yrs ago
Currently at 45k miles
Maintenance I have done:
Change oil appx every 2500 miles (Castrol GTX)
Check/add oil every month or every-other fill-up
Plugs/coils changed at about 35k miles (did not change wires though)
Problem/backstory:
Clutch was going on car, so purchased new clutch, dropped tranny, swapped clutch. However, due to a bit of a communication error, the upstream O2 sensor got caught on the tranny while dropping it down, and tugged the wire (still connected to harness). Started it up to test the new clutch, all seemed fine except for a CEL, the idle may have felt a bit rough, but i figured that could be caused by either the battery being disconnected or better vibration transmission from the new clutch.
Pulled the error code, was P0031 (upstream O2), so jacked it up, pulled out the sensor (was a PITA to get out), and tested using a multimeter, and it seemed like it was shot. So shopped around, and i saw a post on these fourms saying to go for . Got the package in, hooked up the sensor, seemed to run/idle fine.
I cleared the code and set off to run some errands, on the way back i stopped at the post office about 1/4 mile from house and when i got back in, car would crank, but no ignition. I initially thought it may be flooded, so i did the de-flooding dance, and still nothing. Friend stopped by, did some trouble shooting, realized fuel pump was-not turning on. Jumpered the pump directly to battery, pump turned on and car started. Began looking through wiring diagrams. Pump fuses and relays tested fine, I finally found that the "ENGINE COMP 2" fuse was blow, replaced it and tried to start, and nothing. Looked at the fuse and it was blown again. Wiring diagram said the upstream O2 was also on this fuse, so i disconnected the new O2 sensor, replace fuse, started fine. Figured it was a bad sensor, returned it and got another one in the mail. Hooked it up, everything seemed fine.
Once again, set out to see a friend of mine. The first 15-20 min of the drive are back-country roads with no stoplights or any traffic, so i was in gear and moving most of the time. When i got near my destination I started to feel the rough/dipping idle at stoplights, eventually stalling out at lights. I pulled into a parking lot, let cool, and was able to start it up and take a back way (less stopping, but longer) home.
Seemed to do the standard messed up idle: Fine when cold, idle slowly decreases as temps increases, begins to sputter, then it either revs up the engine a bit and continues the cycle, or just stalls. It briefly threw the P0506 code.
As per the normal suggestions I have:
Cleaned ESS
Cleaned MAF
Cleaned throttle
Cleaned intake accordion tube, had oil in it, oil catch can is next on the list
Checked that wires are securely attached to plugs/coils
Drank a few beers
However, i disconnected the new O2 sensor, and it seemed to work fine (a tiny bit rough on the idle, but possibly caused by battery disconnect, does not stall as far as i can tell). Hook the sensor back up, problem comes back. If i wiggle the wire where the connector between the harness/sensor are, it seems to mess with the idle, to the point where a friend could make the car increase its idle a bit simply by moving the censor cable.
So, it seems like this is the cause of the problem, however thats 2 bad sensors in a row, it could just be bad luck/seller has a bad batch, or something else is wrong causing the sensors to go kaput.
Can any of you give suggestions to what may be causing this?
it could also be a problem somewhere in the main harness, however, i figure that the problem would still persist even if the sensor was disconnected if that were the case, but who knows what type of gymnastics the PCM plays with readings.
I will probably refund that sensor, so where else/what model sensor should i get instead?
Also, as a side-note, the workshop manual i have is for a 2009, and the wiring manual is for a 2006, not optimal I know, but i got them for like 40$.
I will provide any additional info requested to the best of my abilities.
2004 RX8
MT
Purchased at 34k miles, 2 yrs ago
Currently at 45k miles
Maintenance I have done:
Change oil appx every 2500 miles (Castrol GTX)
Check/add oil every month or every-other fill-up
Plugs/coils changed at about 35k miles (did not change wires though)
Problem/backstory:
Clutch was going on car, so purchased new clutch, dropped tranny, swapped clutch. However, due to a bit of a communication error, the upstream O2 sensor got caught on the tranny while dropping it down, and tugged the wire (still connected to harness). Started it up to test the new clutch, all seemed fine except for a CEL, the idle may have felt a bit rough, but i figured that could be caused by either the battery being disconnected or better vibration transmission from the new clutch.
Pulled the error code, was P0031 (upstream O2), so jacked it up, pulled out the sensor (was a PITA to get out), and tested using a multimeter, and it seemed like it was shot. So shopped around, and i saw a post on these fourms saying to go for . Got the package in, hooked up the sensor, seemed to run/idle fine.
I cleared the code and set off to run some errands, on the way back i stopped at the post office about 1/4 mile from house and when i got back in, car would crank, but no ignition. I initially thought it may be flooded, so i did the de-flooding dance, and still nothing. Friend stopped by, did some trouble shooting, realized fuel pump was-not turning on. Jumpered the pump directly to battery, pump turned on and car started. Began looking through wiring diagrams. Pump fuses and relays tested fine, I finally found that the "ENGINE COMP 2" fuse was blow, replaced it and tried to start, and nothing. Looked at the fuse and it was blown again. Wiring diagram said the upstream O2 was also on this fuse, so i disconnected the new O2 sensor, replace fuse, started fine. Figured it was a bad sensor, returned it and got another one in the mail. Hooked it up, everything seemed fine.
Once again, set out to see a friend of mine. The first 15-20 min of the drive are back-country roads with no stoplights or any traffic, so i was in gear and moving most of the time. When i got near my destination I started to feel the rough/dipping idle at stoplights, eventually stalling out at lights. I pulled into a parking lot, let cool, and was able to start it up and take a back way (less stopping, but longer) home.
Seemed to do the standard messed up idle: Fine when cold, idle slowly decreases as temps increases, begins to sputter, then it either revs up the engine a bit and continues the cycle, or just stalls. It briefly threw the P0506 code.
As per the normal suggestions I have:
Cleaned ESS
Cleaned MAF
Cleaned throttle
Cleaned intake accordion tube, had oil in it, oil catch can is next on the list
Checked that wires are securely attached to plugs/coils
Drank a few beers
However, i disconnected the new O2 sensor, and it seemed to work fine (a tiny bit rough on the idle, but possibly caused by battery disconnect, does not stall as far as i can tell). Hook the sensor back up, problem comes back. If i wiggle the wire where the connector between the harness/sensor are, it seems to mess with the idle, to the point where a friend could make the car increase its idle a bit simply by moving the censor cable.
So, it seems like this is the cause of the problem, however thats 2 bad sensors in a row, it could just be bad luck/seller has a bad batch, or something else is wrong causing the sensors to go kaput.
Can any of you give suggestions to what may be causing this?
it could also be a problem somewhere in the main harness, however, i figure that the problem would still persist even if the sensor was disconnected if that were the case, but who knows what type of gymnastics the PCM plays with readings.
I will probably refund that sensor, so where else/what model sensor should i get instead?
Also, as a side-note, the workshop manual i have is for a 2009, and the wiring manual is for a 2006, not optimal I know, but i got them for like 40$.
I will provide any additional info requested to the best of my abilities.
07-24-2013, 09:21 AM
#2
My guess is that you have a loose wire somewhere in the 02 sensor line, it is shorted and causing the fuse to blow.
Also I have never heard of NTK sensors its quite possible they are so crappy that they are blowing your fuse.
Either way its quite obvious the 02 sensor is blowing the fuse, I am not sure if its from a shorted wire or a cheap 02 sensor.
Also I have never heard of NTK sensors its quite possible they are so crappy that they are blowing your fuse.
Either way its quite obvious the 02 sensor is blowing the fuse, I am not sure if its from a shorted wire or a cheap 02 sensor.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Nisaja
RX-8 Discussion
51
09-01-2015 04:29 AM