PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - 1987 260E Low power issue

ps2cho · #12 07-31-2011, 09:00 PM

GUYS!

I just figured it out!!!
The oxygen sensors heater element wasn't working!

Alright so....back in...November I replaced the o2 sensor thinking maybe that was the problem...no difference, THEN I discovered the fuel contamination. Well....I bought the generic Bosch O2 sensor and spliced it in.

I asked the question about the 2 white wires having a specific orientation and the responses were shouldn't make any difference, so I spliced it in and forgot about it.

I checked it out right now by plugging it back in while holding the sensor with my hand and voila! No increase in temperature at all!
So....I then reversed the two poles at the plug so it was now in reverse orientation, and HEATER WORKED.

Plugged it back in and massive difference. The car at first was slow, but the more I drove it, the more it picked up.
I would say I just recovered 95% of the power.
I'm thinking though since the sensor has been driven without any heating, it might be trashed already, what do you think? I'll probably get a new one, splice it in, test the heater, then call it a day

Phew....! I KNEW this was something simple. I just couldn't figure it out! Damn happy now. Gonna get a new sensor, drive on the freeway really hard then get'er smoged! Fingers crossed on that one LOL.

Maybe someone's looking down on me -- my 300TE's radiator hose blew off today on the way to an interview and it was a royal PIA fixing it in slacks, shirt, tie, vest...what a fiasco.