Rep Power: 0

Hi,

I've been having some problems with gas mileage - my honda has been drinking fuel like stupid. So I checked the oxygen sensor with a voltage meter and it is the reason. It shows normal (0,6V-0,9V) voltage when I press the gas pedal, but when on idle the voltage drops to 0,04V-0,09V.

So I'm gonna buy a new one, but I'm wondering if in the meantine I can just unplug the cable ? I know that the check engine light will show, but I've heard that the computer will run in a kind of "safe mode" so the car will use more fuel than normal, but less than with a faulty oxygen sensor. Is it true?

The car is a 1997 Honda Civic VI 5D 1,4i 90km (MA8) engine D14A2


P.S. sorry if anything is unclear. I'm not a native speaker.

 
Rep Power: 518

Yes, you can unplug the O2 sensor.

Disconnect the battery for several minutes to (hopefully) erase learned trim corrections.
The computer will run on its basic fuel map without fuel trim feedback corrections.