the difference between good and bad o2 sensors

[crrider80]

Hi, I had a bad o2 sensor wire connector and i recently fixed it by extending the harness wires and crimping them together. The car doesnt backfire anymore and it seems a tad faster. am i just experiencing a placebo effect or psychological impression that the car is a bit faster? Does fixing an o2 sensor really improve performance? thanks.
-Steve

 

[americanjebus]

yes, when your o2 sensor fails your car goes into safety mode because it doesnt know what hte a/f ratios are thats when the car goes into full rich mode and you use more gas and get les power. Hence the backfiring stopped, you dont have as much unburnt fuel in your exhaust now that its fixed.