44 LEAN CEL onmy 1990 3.1

[indyyellow]

Had the code scanned by Pep Boys as I was seeing sporadic CEL's. They ran it and pulled a code 44, lean. They say to try changing out the O2 sensor first. What say you all. What are the other issues that could throw this code. An older dude there (experience????) said it could be the MAF/MAP (I forget which one he called it for this car) sensor but suggested I go with o2 first.
Does the o2 come out easily or send it to a shop just incase something breaks and it needs a TORCH to help it out/fix, what ever? ha ha ha

[SuzukiGhostRider]

Probably the O2 sensor as suggested. It's easy to take out. If there's some rust, soak the threads in PB Blaster first (PB, not WD 40, that crap is weak) and let it sit for 10 minutes. Unplug O2 wire, unscrew old O2, screw in new one with some anti-seize on the threads, plug wire back in. Then start car. You may want to pull your negative before starting for about 2 minutes to clear all stored codes. Your idle may be a bit funny after clearing codes. Give it awhile to settle and relearn.

[Money pit Beretta]

Strange...most 02's run rich when they go bad. Swear it's a safety thing.
They make a socket just for the 02. It has a slit in the side for the wires. Just remember to unplug it. Hell on the 3.1 it's easy to get a wrench on that thing.

[indyyellow]

he may have said rich, hell I forget. But at 117k I suspect the 02 is done. Looked like a easy fix. How much are 02 sensors?

[Money pit Beretta]

For you dirt cheap. You have a two wire, so it's close to 25 bucks. The three wire is 45 bucks. And yes the O2 is way over due, they are said to last 40K after that they are going down hill.

[indyyellow]

would explain the stinky fumes (I have no cat.) and what I think is less MPG then the car should be getting which is about 17 or so in the city. I thought they did better then that?

[Money pit Beretta]

Still going to stink with the new one, just not as bad. Put a Magnaflow high flow cat on it. Your exhaust system was made to have one. There is a scavenge of the exhaust when using one, well really a timing of pulses to do so. They put it where it's at for a reason. You move it anywhere other than where it's at changes the pulses. Take it off and you lose all of that. Ok at WOT that's another thing altogether.

[indyyellow]

Put a Magnaflow high flow cat on it. Your exhaust system was made to have one. There is a scavenge of the exhaust when using one, well really a timing of pulses to do so. They put it where it's at for a reason. You move it anywhere other than where it's at changes the pulses. Take it off and you lose all of that. Ok at WOT that's another thing altogether.

WHAAAAAAT. Ha ha ha Scavenge? Pulses? Where it is at? How much is this Magnaflow? Can't a generic do the same??? Would the avg smuck know the diff, LIKE ME? ha ha ha. I plan to FLIP this car most like, if I put too much in it I can't flip it, ha ha ha

[SuzukiGhostRider]

Strange...most 02's run rich when they go bad. Swear it's a safety thing.
....

Not sure where you heard that but it's a total crock of crap. They can go either way.

[3X00-Modified]

scavenging pulsing... wow this thread is full of crap.

A cat has one purpose... CLEAN the exhaust gases... it also muffles the exhaust note some as well due to its construction, but there is no "performance" benefits to having one.

[woody90gtz]

Headers and x-pipes scavenge...cats do not. haha

And generally when an o2 goes, it is rich. A Code 44 is o2 sensor lean, but I wonder if that means the o2 is reading lean when it is stoich, so the computer adds fuel to compensate.

Either way though...easy fix.

[indyyellow]

"scavenge" what does that term mean???

[heavywoody]

lol sorry I had to

scav·enge   [skav-inj] Show IPA verb, -enged, -eng·ing.
verb (used with object)
1. to take or gather (something usable) from discarded material.
2. to cleanse of filth, as a street.
3. to expel burnt gases from (the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine).
4. Metallurgy . to purify (molten metal) by introducing a substance that will combine chemically with impurities.

[indyyellow]

ok, ha hah a

[Money pit Beretta]

Ok so you guys think there is no reflection of the pressure waves when it hits the media in the converter? And by that it doesn't happen in the muffler if you have no cat? Or even when you have a straight pipe to the atmosphere? This is very funny!