I have a 1998 el and was wondering how long oxygen sensors last for??, i have pacemaker extractors and was wondering if that shortens the life of the o2 sensor. The reason for this question is i have a a/f guage hooked up and now the guage flickers from lean to rich continously, it used to sit in the one spot depending on throttle position, but now even under full throttle it flicks throughout the full range on the guage. Ive redone all the connections and still no luck, and im wondering if the o2 sensor has gone if its my idleing problem and the car seems flat in power, real doughy. Dose the computer in these thing reset back to a default map if they lose the o2 sensor??

Thanks


1998 EL Falcon
AUXR8 III Snorkel
K&N Panel Filter
PaceMaker Extractors, 2.5" Redback exhaust
Lowered 1 1/2"

well o2 sensor can last the life of the car usually if a car runs really rich for a long time it can kill them, also if there really hot and u go into water that will usually stuff them to.
now a o2 sensor should cycle like u say it is doing that is normall as cars go from rich to lean all the time they dont sit in the one spot unless u flat foot it which then the o2 sensor will go into open loop.
when hot and idling the o2 sensor should clycle from around .5 v to 3 v.
thats how they work so the ecu can see how much fule to put in

Fitting extractors should effect them as it's still the same exhaust gas flowign through, just flowing more efficently.

Maybe try reseting your ECU?

The ford O2 sensor range is 0 to 1v, if you are gettign 3 volts there is a major problem. The AF meter cycling back and forward from lean to rich is the way they generally work, narrowbands are not accurate and purely used to tell the EEC more or less fuel so it will swing back and forward constantly (generally from about 13.5 to 15.5 using a wideband).

Fitting extractors can sometimes upset them because they are located further away from the head which makes them run cooler, but thats not usually a big problem. As said they should last a fair while but if you start having idle, fuel consumption and power issues it would be a good thing to replace (after the standard plugs, leads, filters etc).