Can a car continue to drive if its sensor is broken?
2 Answers
If there is a problem with the car sensor, the car can continue to drive, but it is not recommended. The following is the relevant content introduction: 1. The sensor is an important intermediate medium connecting the transmission and the car engine and regulating the car speed. Without the sensor, the speed of the car transmitter cannot be normally transmitted to the car computer chip, so it cannot guarantee the self-adjustment torque of the transmission. If it cannot be adjusted, the transmission cannot work in the optimal way, which will aggravate the damage of the transmission. 2. If a sensor fails, in order to ensure the normal operation of the engine, the ECU will replace the parameters of the faulty sensor with the preset backup parameters to avoid vehicle breakdown.
Well, I have to say, whether you can continue driving with a faulty car sensor really depends on which sensor is broken. Some sensors, like the one that detects vehicle speed, if broken, the car might still start, but the ABS anti-lock braking system and ESP body stability system will fail. This makes cornering and acceleration unstable, increasing the risk of skidding and accidents. Another example is the oxygen sensor in the exhaust; if it's broken, the car can still run, but fuel consumption will increase, and black smoke will come out of the exhaust. Driving for a hundred or two hundred kilometers might be fine, but over time, it could damage the catalytic converter, leading to more expensive repairs. The most dangerous scenario is when critical components like the engine crankshaft position sensor fail. If the engine light on the dashboard comes on, the car might not start at all, and forcing it to run could lead to a breakdown on the road. From my own driving experience, once a sensor fails, you might notice reduced power or unusual vibrations in the car. The best thing to do is pull over immediately. Don’t try to save on fuel costs by continuing to drive—safety comes first. It’s always best to have a professional shop diagnose the issue with a computer scan.
