O2 sensors? Help!

[me.guevara]

Ok, you're just not going to believe this one (I'm still having trouble with it).

I've recently had the engine tuned, I dropped in an MSD coil, magnacor ht leads and fresh spark plugs (among other repairs/improvements). Many people have posted some noticeable improvements after doing similar modifications, which is why I was dissappointed by the barely noticeable improvements in engine function, no real gains in power, and marginal (if that) reduction in fuel consumption.

After some research, I decided that the oxygen sensors were gone (you may recall that I posted a question on bench testing them).

This morning, armed with my brand new sensors, printed instructions from my manual and all the tools I could possibly need, I dove under the Beast to swap out some "bad" sensors.

No sensors. None, nothing, nada. Doh!

The previous owner must have had the exhaust system replaced and either he didn't know what they were or his mechanic didn't bother to tell him, but even the wire harnesses that should give evidence of their dissappearance aren't there.

Of course, this explains a lot (at least, in my tiny brain it does). I've been blowing carbon out the tailpipe on start forever and get horrible (bottom end of the "normal" range) fuel consumption. I presume this accounts for the carbon buildup on my plugs and out the tailpipe. Right?

How much of a project is it going to be to get the plugs back in the pipe and connected to the ECU? Will I need to find OEM pipes or is just adding a threaded hole to the current ones? If I don'tfind the wire harnesses, how do I know where into the ECU to plug the sensors?

Thanks guys, in advance, for any help.

Cheers,

[Rovin4life]

Do you have the check engine lite on? Do you have any codes that tell you the oxygen sensors are bad.

If you have an ECU programmed for the oxygen sensors it will automatically come with the cel lite on. It will read them immediately.


If you dont then perhaps you dont have them programmed into the ECU.

ME, you got a pain in the ass. A engine ECU will need to be looked at to see what country it is actually from and what the standards for that country are.

Tell me what country do you think it is from.

I can do some research to see what if any the ecu hardware should be.

[me.guevara]

Originally Posted by beezel

ME, you got a pain in the ass. A engine ECU will need to be looked at to see what country it is actually from and what the standards for that country are.

Tell me about it!!!!!

The CEL is not lit - come to think about it, I don't recall ever seeing the thing light up. Hmm, maybe the folk responsible for dorking my rig up also removed a light to cover their incompetence...

Furthermore, I don't have a code display anywhere on the vehicle - when I went to the ONLY LR dealer in town (when they received the itinerant computer they share with the dealer in La Paz), they returned my Disco to me saying that there was nothing to read.

Until today, I thought I had an Australian Disco, but it would appear I need to base my presumptions on some more detailed research.

I'll look for the ECU tomorrow and get back to you on my findings.

Many thanks for the support!

[Rovin4life]

The ECU wont tell you anything. Well it might but doubt it.

Anyway look closely at the dash. If there is a CEL lite for it it will be on the dash board.

Now I dont know what LR is like in other countries but I am surprised that you had to wait for the computer.

We have access to cars back to the late eighties.

I know of only one car with only one computer. That is the 1993 jaguar XJR-S.
Only a hundred made and only sold in America and only one computer to fix them. If you got one at the dealership you have to wait to get the computer.

[me.guevara]

Originally Posted by beezel

Anyway look closely at the dash. If there is a CEL lite for it it will be on the dash board.

I'm pretty sure that there's a CEL light in the dash, but it doesn't light at startup (I get the handbrake, oil pressure and battery light until the engine starts, thence only the handbrake light). I'll have to see about getting behind there and checking for proper function (it wouldn't surprise me a bit at this point to find that the bulb is burnt out or removed).

Originally Posted by beezel

Now I dont know what LR is like in other countries but I am surprised that you had to wait for the computer.

The "dealer" here is nothing more than the licensed distributor (and crook) - he doesn't have very good tecnicians (they get the training and leave to more generous shops, so he stopped paying for training), and recently lost the representation (LRs are no longer sold in Bolivia). He was so cheap, that he only bought one computer for the entire country. His prices are double or triple what they are in your dealership. Don't get me started on this looser...

Thanks for the help.

[Adam in NYC USA]

Hello from Adam in NYC

I would first start with the VIN to see what pedigree is your Land Rover and what was supposed to be in the engine compartment.

If you have an non-NAS (North American Spec), then you might have just two oxygen sensors on the manifold.

If not, then you might have something older that does not do fuel emissions.

A excellent investment right now would be a RAVE CD or access to the LR website so you can truely 'Discover' what you own.

Then you can figure out what to do next.

Anyone know where on the engine is the markings (numbers) just in case our collegue here got a transplant?

[Badger1]

Hey MG, sounds like you have quite a mystery on your hands! I agree check the VIN # and you might also want to check the number on the engine as well to make sure it is the one the truck originally came with. You never know if something newer/older was installed in the vehicle over the years! Just a thought.

Please keep this thread updated on your findings. It is quite interesting, and I hope all turns out alright!

Good luck MG!

[Rovin4life]

Look on door for the vin and it will give you the name of the country it is designed for.

[me.guevara]

VIN: SALLJGMM8MA137604

I know you posted the "rules" for decoding the VIN not too long ago, but for the life of me, I can't find your post, Beezel.

I'll check the engine in a bit (my wife's out and about), but I don't thikn there's an engine swap in my Disco's history - I know both POs and they're not the kind of folk who mess around with that kind of project, they just buy a new vehicle and dump the old one (and I can tell you that they were definitely not faithfull to the marque).

My rig definitely has no emission gear (other than the exhaust pipes and mufflers) - again, I don't think it ever did. I'm hoping that the pipes were swaped out at some point and a lazy shop just "eliminated" the sensors, such that I can simply add them back on.

My plight started because I wanted to swap out two O2 sensors (having no cats, I didn't expect to have more than that) - my surprise came when I found NO sensors...

Thanks again for the help, guys.

Cheers,

[roverX]

I think this is what you are referring to: Need help I.D.ing a possible new purshase
But it only goes as far as the first 3 letters. I don't recall seeing anything going further than that. But that would be a good "sticky".

[me.guevara]

Thanks X!

Here's a little vicuña vixen for your troubles...

Bon appetit!

[roverX]

Originally Posted by me.guevara

Thanks X!

Here's a little vicuña vixen for your troubles...

Bon appetit!

LOL! I guess you didn't hear...somewhere in that long ass thread Kelli converted me to human women only...

[me.guevara]

What? Whoa! What other brazen changes are in the offing now? What's the world coming to? X has given up animal love...

[Adam in NYC USA]

It is that avian flu (uh clap), it is making the rounds now.

[downunderdisco]

My 96 D1 has the cat but does not run any o2 sensors. It was Australian delivered and the original system is still on it. I was likewise going to replace my sensors as it was running a bit rich mechanic who specializes in LR said it uses the air sensor in the intake to monitor for fuel injection.