Hello. I was wondering if anyone could help me. Knowing very little about engines sinse the mid 90's I have to ask the following question. A friend of mine has a two and a half year old Clio and he wants me to replace the oxygen sensors (I think thats what they are) with him as Renault want about £250 and the parts are quite cheap. He has some manuals of some description, and I have seen them in the past, but it seems his engine is a rare fitment in the Clio. It is a 1.2 16 Valve, but looks identical to the 1.4 engine in the manuals and owners manual, so parts have always been tricky. Apparently, the 1.2 ordinarily has one of the two sensors (downstream I think), and the 1.4 had them both. Renault have told him this particular 1.2 engine has both two as its based on the 1.4 unit, and he cant find either of them as far as im aware. I have lots of experience of older engines without ECU's, but modern bits like this are a different language to me until I have to own one...
Could anyone perhaps give me a clue as to where to look, what to look for and any tips for the changing of the two units? Any advice greatly appreciated.
Regards, Adam
Renault Clio Upstream and Downstream Oxygen Sensor location.
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adamskibx
- Posts: 250
- Joined: 29 Nov 2004, 01:46
Renault Clio Upstream and Downstream Oxygen Sensor location.
BX GT (non functioning)
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AndersDK
- Posts: 6060
- Joined: 21 Feb 2003, 04:56
- x 1
Hi Adam -
Any Oxygen sensor will look somewhat like a spark plug or diesel glow plug, directly screwed into the exhaust stream somewhere along the exhaust system. They are usually "hidden" because they are fitted on top of the exhaust piping against the chassis bottom, to physically protect the sensor against unduly road conditions.
I believe its becoming standard to fit them on top each end of the cat converter.
On newer compact cars, the cat converter is the "mystery" can fitted directly to the exhaust manifold with a heat screen - right next to the engine block. Here the upstream sensor will be found somewhere on the exhaust manifold, and the downstream sensor at bottom of the cat converter. That is : in the engine bay then.
The upstream sensor is always there, as it will be the only sensor in single sensor (earlier) systems. Its always located between engine exhaust manifold and the catalytic converter. Its ONLY purpose in life is to tell the computer to protect the expensive cat converter, by modifying the idle and low RPM mixture.
The downstream sensor is optional, but becoming mandatory on newer cars. Its located on the exhaust right after the cat converter, or between the cat converter and the silencers downstream.
Its ONLY purpose in life is to monitor if the cat converter is working. And if not the case, it will signal the computer to set a fault code and the ECU will go into an "environment protected mode", which will limit the engine capabilities.
NOTE : there are 2 main types around with different electric properties. They cannot be swapped. Any sensor within either typegroup will work no big problem on any car, as these sensors do not need calibration or computer adjusting.
NOTE : the cat converter is a completely "passive" device. It just sits there and convert exhaust gasses, whenever it reaches its working temperature. Its only protected by and relies totally on the upstream sensor.
Just be sure you get the correct type matching the vehicle in question.
Any Oxygen sensor will look somewhat like a spark plug or diesel glow plug, directly screwed into the exhaust stream somewhere along the exhaust system. They are usually "hidden" because they are fitted on top of the exhaust piping against the chassis bottom, to physically protect the sensor against unduly road conditions.
I believe its becoming standard to fit them on top each end of the cat converter.
On newer compact cars, the cat converter is the "mystery" can fitted directly to the exhaust manifold with a heat screen - right next to the engine block. Here the upstream sensor will be found somewhere on the exhaust manifold, and the downstream sensor at bottom of the cat converter. That is : in the engine bay then.
The upstream sensor is always there, as it will be the only sensor in single sensor (earlier) systems. Its always located between engine exhaust manifold and the catalytic converter. Its ONLY purpose in life is to tell the computer to protect the expensive cat converter, by modifying the idle and low RPM mixture.
The downstream sensor is optional, but becoming mandatory on newer cars. Its located on the exhaust right after the cat converter, or between the cat converter and the silencers downstream.
Its ONLY purpose in life is to monitor if the cat converter is working. And if not the case, it will signal the computer to set a fault code and the ECU will go into an "environment protected mode", which will limit the engine capabilities.
NOTE : there are 2 main types around with different electric properties. They cannot be swapped. Any sensor within either typegroup will work no big problem on any car, as these sensors do not need calibration or computer adjusting.
NOTE : the cat converter is a completely "passive" device. It just sits there and convert exhaust gasses, whenever it reaches its working temperature. Its only protected by and relies totally on the upstream sensor.
Just be sure you get the correct type matching the vehicle in question.
Anders (DK) - '90 BX16Image
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adamskibx
- Posts: 250
- Joined: 29 Nov 2004, 01:46
I am printing this off and will have a look later.