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Truck Troubles - heated o2 sensor?

I have a 2003 chevy avalanche, my engine light came on so I took it to Discount auto parts for a test to see whats wrong. And they said something about it was a heated o2 sensor but the test was basic so they couldn't tell what one. I was wondering if I keep driving will it mess up my truck or if I have to fix it now?

Public Comments

1. The rule of thumb when having the auto parts store pull codes is that what part is named in the code is the part they tell you is defective. In the case of an O2 sensor, it could be that the sensor is really dead, OR that it is telling the truth and reporting a real air fuel mixture problem. Each year thousands of perfectly good sensors are replaced because parts stores don't know what they're talking about. Read the post below to understand what an O2 sensor really does so you don't simply throw parts at the problem
2. U HAVE 4 O2 SENSORS U WILL BE BURNING MORE FUEL THAN U SHOULD.
3. Your problem is one or more of your oxygen sensor is in need of replacement,for its heater circuit (inside each of the O2 sensor has a heating element,to heat up the sensor for its efficiency.When the computer detects a bad one,it will set a code to tell you which one.Be it Bank 1 Sensor 1,Bank 2 sensor 1,or Bank 1 sensor 2 or Bank 2 sensor 2.
4. get your codes read again and get the code number. something like PO171 or something like that is what it will look like, then you can call the dealer or a NAPA autoparts store, the code you pull out of the computer will tell you exactly which one is not working. Then its just determining which O2 sensor it is, you have 2 on the right side of the motor and 2 on the left. one is in front of your converter and one is behind on each side.