Alright ive had a similar problem like this before...I will be driving and randomly the CEL will come on for about a minute or two and then go away. Ive been told that this is an 02 problem, but i wanted some opinions. Would this cause a CEL. My opinion is that 02 sensors are a waste, but let me know what you guys think!
Thanks!

 

Bad O2 sensors would cause the EXACT problem you are describing. CEL will go on and off seemingly randomly...and is usually off when you first start up. Not saying your problem is guaranteed to be caused by O2 sensors... but I am saying that a bad O2 sensor would cause the very symptoms you are seeing.

 

yea thats what i thought too, the mechanic told me that i had "slow reacting" 02 sensors, but i thought it was a bunch of BS. Will the 02 sensors actually effect my engine performance or is it all emissions?

 

they effect the performance....try cleaning them with carb cleaner...

 

they can cause a rich or lean running condition depending on what they're reading.


have you checked codes? dont just replace parts before you knwo whats wrong.

 

Take a sterno torch and burn them for about 20-30 seconds till they turn white. That should clean them up nicely. Thats what i did, made my car run 10 times better, my idle smoothed and the gassy smell went away .

 

Yea i had a guy run the codes, and they did come up. The light only seems to come on if i step on it for a little while. That makes me thinks that it is the 02s because they are taking a little while to catch up. Would this cause my car to bog out a little after shifting around 2000 rpm?

 

Either way, you pretty much know they are bad and you know they are causing issues, so it's time ot replace them. I'm guessing that since you are in the 5.0 section you have a 95 or earlier Mustang, which means you only have 2 instead of 4 O2 sensors. So it will only cost you about $100 to buy 2 new ones. And they are very easy to install and should take less than 1 minute each. So why not just replace them?

 

Yea its time i replaced them. Thanks

 

when you replace the o2 sensors, spray them with PBBlaster and work them back and forth a lot of times, they seize to the midpipe and are a b*tch to break free, when you reinstall them use antiseize compound and i'd try to clean them before buying new ones, see if it helps and then if needed replace them. Good Luck