Will the engine malfunction light illuminate if the oxygen sensor is faulty?
1 Answers
Yes, the engine malfunction light will illuminate if the oxygen sensor is faulty. The oxygen sensor is one of the critical sensors in the engine control system. A malfunctioning oxygen sensor can affect the normal operation of the engine, and once it fails, the engine malfunction light will turn on. It is recommended to promptly inspect and repair the oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor is used to detect the oxygen concentration in the exhaust and sends feedback signals to the ECU. The ECU then adjusts the fuel injection amount from the injectors to maintain the air-fuel ratio of the mixture near the theoretical value. If the oxygen sensor fails, the computer of the electronic fuel injection system cannot obtain information about the oxygen concentration in the exhaust pipe, thus failing to perform feedback control on the air-fuel ratio. This can lead to increased engine exhaust pollution, unstable idling, misfires, and surging issues. Therefore, it is essential to address the malfunction or replace the oxygen sensor promptly.