
The most common failure of sensors is malfunction, which is mainly caused by the following three reasons: Elastic blockage: At this time, the signal voltage of the oxygen sensor will be high, and the engine computer will issue an instruction to reduce the fuel injection volume, making the mixture too lean. Passage blockage: Dust and engine oil block the passage between the oxygen sensor and the atmosphere. At this time, the signal voltage of the oxygen sensor will be low, and the engine voltage will instruct the injector to inject more fuel, causing the mixture to be too rich. Component failure: Check whether the working voltage of the spark plug and ignition coil is normal; check whether the three-way catalytic converter is working properly and whether there is any blockage.

Last time I drove a Emgrand, I encountered a similar issue where the dashboard suddenly displayed a fault code. The most common problem is with the oxygen sensor, which is located on the exhaust pipe. Over time, carbon buildup or contamination can cause it to malfunction, leading to inexplicably high fuel consumption. If the crankshaft position sensor fails, it's even more troublesome—I've seen several cases where the car wouldn't start. Poor contact due to aging or damaged wiring is particularly common, especially for vehicles frequently driven on rough roads. Water ingress or short circuits in connectors can also cause sensors to report false errors. A friend's Boyue once had unstable idling, and after a long inspection, it turned out the knock sensor had been loosened by a mechanic. These sensors are all connected to the engine control unit, so I recommend using a diagnostic tool to read the fault codes first before taking any action, to avoid unnecessary expenses from replacing parts blindly.

Having repaired cars for over a decade, I've seen all sorts of sensor issues with vehicles. The mass air flow sensor causes the most trouble, especially in northern regions where dust buildup makes it act up. Just the other day, a Binyue had hesitation during hard acceleration - turned out the front oxygen sensor was completely clogged with carbon deposits. The knock sensor's placement on the cylinder block side is problematic, its wiring harness often gets pulled loose during throttle body removal. Let me tell you, unstable sensor voltage frequently stems from corroded ground wires or alternator problems. With poor fuel quality, rear oxygen sensors are particularly prone to lead poisoning, triggering the emissions light. Using contact cleaner on connectors is just a temporary fix - they should be replaced with OEM parts when needed. The crankshaft position sensor sits too low - water intrusion after flooding often causes sudden stalling due to short circuits, so this requires special attention.

My Emgrand X3 kept triggering the engine warning light last year. The veteran mechanic said it could be either false sensor readings or actual failures. If the air-fuel ratio is off, the MAF sensor and front/rear O2 sensors start conflicting. A faulty knock sensor causes piston knocking sounds during acceleration, like firecrackers. Loose connectors are the simplest fix – just spray electronic cleaner on the contacts. Trouble codes appearing after lending the car often indicate clogged rear O2 sensors from bad fuel. The repair guy told me turbocharged cars have delicate boost pressure sensors that easily get misaligned when touched. Modern sensors are networked – a failed wheel speed sensor can also illuminate the ABS light. Never blindly reset fault codes; delaying necessary replacements may lead to costly overhauls later.

Sensor malfunctions can be categorized into hardware failure and signal interference. Based on my research: A cracked or contaminated ceramic core in an oxygen sensor will trigger a P0420 fault code; Dust accumulation on the hot wire of a mass airflow sensor can cause fuel consumption to be falsely high by 20%; Damaged wiring on a knock sensor due to exhaust pipe heat will definitely cause false alarms; The camshaft position sensor, being close to the timing chain, can experience signal disruption from excessive oil sludge; The most troublesome is the wheel speed sensor - even minor iron debris can cause ABS malfunction. High-pressure water jets directed at the wheel hub during car washing may damage the Hall effect sensor. Parking in areas with strong electromagnetic interference can also cause abnormalities, and it's common for faults to disappear simply by moving the vehicle. When repairing, avoid cheap aftermarket parts - incorrect OEM calibration parameters will still trigger error codes.

My colleague's Xingyue L just experienced a sensor failure. It started with cold engine stuttering, and the computer diagnosed it as the coolant temperature sensor sending false signals, causing fuel consumption to double. For four-wheel-drive vehicles, special attention must be paid to the wheel speed sensors—after off-roading, mud can cover the probes, causing the 4WD system to fail. An old mechanic taught us: unplug the oxygen sensor connector and measure the voltage; if it's below 0.45V, it indicates a short circuit. Abnormal cylinder pressure can falsely trigger the knock sensor. When troubleshooting wiring, prioritize checking the wire harness near the firewall, as it's prone to being worn by metal edges. Finally, a reminder: if the throttle body isn't calibrated after cleaning, the throttle position sensor can also malfunction—I've encountered this situation three times.


