2000 Echo - O2 sensor failure

[Ashla]

Hey all.... new member.. have owned my 2000 Echo since almost new (6,000 kms). Now has just over 95,000.

Issue I am facing is with the O2 sensor.

Had the Check Engine light come on intermittantly during the past couple of days & had the lube tech run the computer on it during an oil change (I am "religious about regular preventative maintenance).

Reading came up that the fuel / air mixture was light - had a mechanic run another reading at another shop - mechanic suggests it is probably the O2 sensor which is gone.

Situation is that I read at AutoTap (http://www.autotap.com/oxygensensors...n_sensors.html) which states about O2 sensors in general:

"Because the sensor reacts to oxygen in the exhaust and not fuel, any engine problem that allows unburned air to pass through the cylinders will also trick an O2 sensor into reading lean. A misfiring spark plug or a leaky exhaust valve - even a leak in the exhaust manifold gasket - may allow enough air into the exhaust to screw up the sensor readings. It won't damage the sensor, but it will create a rich running condition that hurts emissions and fuel economy."

I've also read that some O2 sensors will go around 100,000kms, but have read & heard otherwise from alternate sources.

Just concerned that I'm going to fork out $300 to replace the O2 sensor, just to find out it was actually something else.

As you can probably tell, I don't know a lot about newer cars - my old 80's cars I could do SOME work on back in the day, but these newer ones... ack.

I'd appreciate it if anyone has feedback on this situation.

Thank you !!

Ashla

[Deep]

Depending on the location(s) of the the O2 sensors, they're often not hard to replace. Chances are, one of them is on the exhaust manifold and the other is under the car, a little downstream of exhaust manifold. You could try replacing them yourself, they're a maintenence item anyway.

[treasureshell]

I am having the exact same problem with my 2000 Echo....

can anyone provide the part# for the O2 Sensor so I can call toyota and find out how much it cost.

I called them earlier and the told me the oxygen sensor is for the exhaust area and I told them specifically that this part is located inside the front hood, so they ask for the specific part# for it.

Thanks

angela

[TSGTJOE]

CHECK WITH ADVANCED AUTO PARTS OR AUTOZONE
THEY HAVE A UNIVERSAL ONE FOR UNDER 80.00

[Xanadu]

Hello, I never got a check engine light BUT I changed the oil 2 weeks ago on my 2000
Echo (93,000 miles) and there was gasoline mixed with the oil. I posted a question about
possible problems with the injectors, but after reading this, it might be something to look at.
Has anyone experienced this? Gas in the oil? If the O2 sensor(s) are not working properly,
maybe they are sending a signal to the computer to run richer than it should?
The car runs fine, but my wife did have problems starting it yesterday while she was out
shopping. Puzzling!