Upstream Oxygen Sensor

[fourputt]

I just completed a water pump. timing belt job on my 2000 Solara V6. I also replaced the valve cover gaskets. The car runs great. I drove it about 30 miles and the check engine light come on. I checked the code and the number 1 bank upstream heated oxygen sensor seems to be the problem. I checked to make sure no wire was shorted and cleared the code. I drove it about another 30 miles and same thing, code set. I then swapped the rear upstream sensor( number 1 ) with the front ( number 2 ) and test drove it again. This time it showed bank 2 which tells me for sure the sensor is bad. I have ordered both upstream sensors from rockauto buying the OEM brand Denso. Will it hurt anything if I drive this car to work as I have no other vehicle to drive until I get the parts? The car runs great, you cannot tell it running it is so smooth. I should have the part in three days. What you think. TD

[ghettosled]

you wont have any problems if you drive it for a little while like this. prolonged driving can cause the car to run rich and the cats to go bad with the air/fuel ratio not being perfect, but that would take a while to happen.

[Daijoubu]

I think only the upstream sensor is needed for the closed loop to work.
The downstream sensor is just there to make sure your cat is working properly?

[BMR]

Originally Posted by ghettosled

you wont have any problems if you drive it for a little while like this. prolonged driving can cause the car to run rich and the cats to go bad with the air/fuel ratio not being perfect, but that would take a while to happen.

^Yup.

[mikew/97camry]

I would drive it with no worries. Now if you notice anything strange while driving like idle problems etc than post it up but 3 days is not that big of deal. I wouldn't worry even driving it longer than that if the car is already running smooth.

[fourputt]

Thanks for the replies. The part will be here Wednesday and it should be good to go. Thanks again.