That's hilarious, Cash.

I have fallen for Words with Friends. I'm suziq68 for anyone who wants to play.

Owen just told me I need to order HBO because, "I would really enjoy a show called Game of Thrones."

He would!

tommyrot, what do I need to know about the O2 sensor in my Honday Civic Hybrid? It regulates the mixture of oxygen with fuel in my imagine - is that it? We've got to get ours replaced.

tommyrot, what do I need to know about the O2 sensor in my Honday Civic Hybrid? It regulates the mixture of oxygen with fuel in my imagine - is that it? We've got to get ours replaced.

Yeah, the 02 sensor tells the engine computer what the fuel/air mixture is for each engine cylinder, and uses that info to tune the engine. Car computers can function without the O2 sensor, but they will run less efficiently and pollute more. Plus it can make other problems worse.

eta: Like the catalytic converter, I think it's attached to the exhaust system somewhere.

Most of my auto expertise is with older cars with carburators, not electronic fuel injection.

tommyrot, what do I need to know about the O2 sensor in my Honday Civic Hybrid?

Whether it was installed by Sontarans could be a good place to start.

Heh.

That's right, Hec, and don't futz around before you replace it, because O2 sensor failure can trigger (much more expensive) catalytic converter failure. We had to replace ours on the Astro a couple of years ago. It was one of the worst repair experiences of our life, involving being stranded in Albuquerque and subjected to verbal abuse, being told to sign a form saying the car had been repaired by Shop A, when in fact they'd given up on it and we had to have it towed to Shop B.

Yeah. Get it changed.

tommyrot, what do I need to know about the O2 sensor in my Honday Civic Hybrid? It regulates the mixture of oxygen with fuel in my imagine - is that it? We've got to get ours replaced.

Hec, I've dealt with this twice with my Toyota Echo, which, granted is not a hybrid. However, what I'm about to tell you is WAY less expensive and something you can do yourself.

First question, in 4 parts: how do you know the O2 sensor needs replaced? Was it because the check engine light came on and you took it to a mechanic? And what was the car doing that was problematic? Was the engine missing when you accelerated?

Yeah. Get it changed.

First question, in 4 parts: how do you know the O2 sensor needs replaced? Was it because the check engine light came on and you took it to a mechanic? And what was the car doing that was problematic? Was the engine missing when you accelerated?

It's at the shop right now. Took it in because of the check engine light. They ran the diagnostic and that's what they said the problem was. And the engine has been increasingly wonky, and sometimes unresponsive.

They ran the diagnostic and that's what they said the problem was.

They're not always right when they tell you it's the (very expensive) O2 sensor. In fact, you can replace the O2 sensor and the problem will still keep occurring.

Follow-up: a lot of times, when the mechanic says that the O2 sensor needs replaced, it's a dirty MAF (mass air flow) sensor. When that is dirty, the O2 sensor acts wonky.

If the check engine light has been coming on, take the car to AutoZone or one of the other big auto parts stores. Tell them the check engine light is coming on, and ask them to use their code reader to tell you what code the check engine light is throwing out. If it's "fuel too lean" or "fuel too rich," the problem is a dirty MAF sensor, which you should be able to pull out yourself and clean with rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip.

I am not talking out my ass here; I've done it twice in the 7+ years I've owned the car, and it has not resulted in horrific damage. It's fixed the problem both times, car still runs marvelously even though it's 11 years old.