A Sensor that Makes Sense
October 25, 2026
There’s an electronic device in your vehicle you may not even know about: the oxygen sensor. Your vehicle probably has more than one of them, and these oxygen sensors help your vehicle burn fuel efficiently, reduce emissions and protect important parts in your engine. An oxygen sensor senses how much oxygen is in the exhaust gases as they exit your engine.
Most vehicles have anywhere from two to four oxygen sensors. They measure the amount of oxygen in the exhaust before it goes through the catalytic converter and then after, checking how efficiently the converter is working. The information the oxygen sensor sends your engine’s control module allows it to adjust the air/fuel mixture for optimal combustion. That, in turn, helps you improve fuel economy and allows your engine to run its smoothest.
When your oxygen sensor fails, it causes your engine to run inefficiently. That can result in carbon building up, bad fuel economy and damage to your catalytic converter, and that can be a very expensive repair.
One sign an oxygen sensor is failing is when you notice the Check Engine light is lit up on your dash. That, accompanied by rough idling, engine misfires and hesitation as you accelerate are all signs at least one of your oxygen sensors has a problem. If you notice those symptoms, it’s important to have one of our technicians check it out.
They will scan the vehicle’s computer codes to pinpoint which oxygen sensor isn’t doing its job correctly. Then, the technician will remove the bad sensor, replace it and run a test to make sure your vehicle is working the way it should.
When you get back in your vehicle, you’ll notice a big difference: a smoother engine and better mileage. Now that’s a sensor that makes sense.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
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