cold start problem is now o2 problem

[flyingplatypus]

Brought the car in because of a cold start issue, and the tech told me that the O2 sensor ECU, not the sensor itself is broken. Is there a replacement or a way to fix it?

thanks


heard that someone had an 82 unit, is that compatible

[johnsjmc]

I don,t believe the O2 system will be the root cause of poor cold starting ( more likely WUR or system pressures .You can disconnect the O2 sensor and set the CO level at about 2% . The car will run better but gas mileage may suffer a little ( SC mileage wasn,t good anyway)Or you can probably find a used O2 sensor control unit by advertising on this board.The unit was the same from 1980 to 83 on North Am cars

[flyingplatypus]

my car is actually an 84 euro spec, my tech said that the poor start is due to running too rich because of the broken control unit

[johnsjmc]

If a 1984 then you have a 3.2 DME car.I believe some euro cars actually were built without a O2 sensor at all. If you have a catalyst and a O2 sensor and the O2 isn,t working ,you may need a complete ECM (known as a DME )The unit you are looking for is from a 1984 to 87? There is a diff between the programming of a Euro vs North Am car but I think the basic DME is the same (you should be able to move the chip from yours to the new one. I would be very sure of the wiring between the O2 sensor and the DME before I condemed the DME.

[flyingplatypus]

The PO who brought the car over from europe installed a cat and O2 sensor, which was working before, but the tech said that instead of getting a sinsusoidal reading from the O2 control it is jagged, not sure what that means. He said that I either need to replace the whole system with a US one or replace the O2 control, I'm quite confused as to how there is an O2 sensor when the euro's didn't have one to begin with.