RAM 1500 Van V8-5.9L VIN Z LDC (2001)
Oxygen Sensor: Description and Operation
The Oxygen Sensors (O2S) are attached to, and protrude into the vehicle exhaust system. Depending on the vehicle emission package, a total of either 1,
2 or 4 sensors may be used.
In this engine with 2 sensors: 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.
In this engine with 4 sensors: Four 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 wire harness. This is why it is important to never solder an O2 sensor connector, or pack the connector with grease.
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: If the vehicle is equipped with 4 oxygen sensors, a separate oxygen sensor relay is used to supply voltage to the sensor
heating elements. This particular relay is used only for the 1/2 and 2/2 downstream sensors. Voltage for the other 2 sensor heating elements is supplied
directly from the ASD relay.
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 Heaters 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 4.5 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 - gasoline powered engines equipped with 2 sensors: 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 - In this engine equipped with 2 sensors: 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 - In this engine equipped with 4 sensors: 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 this information to fine tune fuel delivery to maintain the correct oxygen content at the downstream oxygen sensors. The PCM will change the
air/fuel ratio until the upstream sensors input a voltage that the PCM has determined will make the downstream sensors output (oxygen content) correct.
The upstream oxygen sensors also provide an input to determine mini-catalyst efficiency. Main catalytic convertor efficiency is not calculated with this
package.