RAM 3500 Truck 2WD V8-5.7L VIN D (2003)
Oxygen Sensor: Description and Operation
The Oxygen Sensors (O2S) are attached to, and protrude into the vehicle exhaust system. Depending on the engine or emission package, the vehicle may
use a total of either 2 or 4 sensors.
Federal Emission Packages: Two sensors are used: upstream (referred to as 1/1) and downstream (referred to as 1/2). With this emission package, the
upstream sensor (1/1) is located just before the main catalytic convertor. The downstream sensor (1/2) is located just after the main catalytic convertor.
California Emission Packages: On this emissions package, 4 sensors are used: 2 upstream (referred to as 1/1 and 2/1) and 2 downstream (referred to as
1/2 and 2/2). With this emission package, the right upstream sensor (2/1) is located in the right exhaust downpipe just before the mini-catalytic convertor.
The left upstream sensor (1/1) is located in the left exhaust downpipe just before the mini-catalytic convertor. The right downstream sensor (2/2) is
located in the right exhaust downpipe just after the mini-catalytic convertor, and before the main catalytic convertor. The left downstream sensor (1/2) is
located in the left exhaust downpipe just after the mini-catalytic convertor, and before the main catalytic convertor.
An O2 sensor is a galvanic battery that provides the PCM with a voltage signal (0 - 1 volt) inversely proportional to the amount of oxygen in the exhaust.
In other words, if the oxygen content is low, the voltage output is high; if the oxygen content is high the output voltage is low. The PCM uses this
information to adjust injector pulse-width to achieve the 14.7-to-1 air/fuel ratio necessary for proper engine operation and to control emissions.
The O2 sensor must have a source of oxygen from outside of the exhaust stream for comparison. Current O2 sensors receive their fresh oxygen (outside
air) supply through the O2 sensor case housing.
Four wires (circuits) are used on each O2 sensor: a 12-volt feed circuit for the sensor heating element; a ground circuit for the heater element; a
low-noise sensor return circuit to the PCM, and an input circuit from the sensor back to the PCM to detect sensor operation.
Oxygen Sensor Heater Relay - 5.9L/8.0L: If 4 oxygen sensors are used, a separate heater relay is used to supply voltage to the sensors heating
elements for only the 1/2 and 2/2 downstream sensors. Voltage for the other 2 sensor heating elements is supplied directly from the Powertrain Control
Module (PCM) through a Pulse Width Module (PWM) method.
Pulse Width Module (PWM) - 5.9L/8.0L: Voltage to the O2 sensor heating elements is supplied directly from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
through two separate Pulse Width Module (PWM) low side drivers. PWM is used on both the upstream and downstream O2 sensors if equipped with a
Federal Emissions Package, and only on the 2 upstream sensors (1/1 and 2/1) if equipped with a California Emissions Package. The main objective for a
PWM driver is to avoid overheating of the O2 sensor heater element. With exhaust temperatures increasing with time and engine speed, it's not required
to have a full-voltage duty-cycle on the O2 heater elements.
To avoid the large simultaneous current surge needed to operate all 4 sensors, power is delayed to the 2 downstream heater elements by the PCM for
approximately 2 seconds.
Oxygen Sensor Heater Elements: The O2 sensor uses a Positive Thermal Co-efficient (PTC) heater element. As temperature increases, resistance
increases. At ambient temperatures around 70 °F, the resistance of the heating element is approximately 13 ohms. As the sensor's temperature increases,
resistance in the heater element increases. This allows the heater to maintain the optimum operating temperature of approximately 930 - 1100 °F (500 -
600 °C). Although the sensors operate the same, there are physical differences, due to the environment that they operate in, that keep them from being
interchangeable.
Maintaining correct sensor temperature at all times allows the system to enter into closed loop operation sooner. Also, it allows the system to remain in
closed loop operation during periods of extended idle.
In Closed Loop operation, the PCM monitors certain O2 sensor input(s) along with other inputs, and adjusts the injector pulse width accordingly. During
Open Loop operation, the PCM ignores the O2 sensor input. The PCM adjusts injector pulse width based on preprogrammed (fixed) values and inputs
from other sensors.
Upstream Sensor - Federal Emissions Package: The upstream sensor (1/1) provides an input voltage to the PCM. The input tells the PCM the oxygen
content of the exhaust gas. The PCM uses this information to fine tune fuel delivery to maintain the correct oxygen content at the downstream oxygen
sensor. The PCM will change the air/fuel ratio until the upstream sensor inputs a voltage that the PCM has determined will make the downstream sensor
output (oxygen content) correct.
The upstream oxygen sensor also provides an input to determine catalytic convertor efficiency.
Downstream Sensor - Federal Emissions Package: The downstream oxygen sensor (1/2) is also used to determine the correct air-fuel ratio. As the
oxygen content changes at the downstream sensor, the PCM calculates how much air-fuel ratio change is required. The PCM then looks at the upstream
oxygen sensor voltage and changes fuel delivery until the upstream sensor voltage changes enough to correct the downstream sensor voltage (oxygen
content).
The downstream oxygen sensor also provides an input to determine catalytic convertor efficiency
Upstream Sensors - California Emissions Package: Two upstream sensors are used (1/1 and 2/1). The 1/1 sensor is the first sensor to receive exhaust
gases from the # 1 cylinder. They provide an input voltage to the PCM. The input tells the PCM the oxygen content of the exhaust gas. The PCM uses
