Running Rich - New O2 Sensor On The Way

May 20, 2008

Hi Guys

Newbie to Rav 4 section so hello all !

<< 1995 Rav4 2.0 Auto >>

1st of all I'm on a quick dash for information, I've scouted the forum but haven't really had lots of time to pin point the information I need so any help is more than appreciated. Online manual would be a help but I don't know what engine type is...

1st things 1st - our Rav 4 has just failed it's MOT on a number of things, most of which I can deal with. the main problem is the high CO & HC fail on the emissions test.

During the service i started last night I had a look at the plugs and they are indeed black which indicates she's running rich of course. Now I have cleaned out what I think is the idle control valve as I know these can be problematic but I'm now tasked with changing the oxygen sensor. Have ordered that part £90+ :o which should arrive tomorrow. Had a quick look under the car last night and it looks like the sensor is just before the cat. The cable seems to run in the car to passenger foot well ? ?

Questions are:

1) Do I have to take out all the carpet, centre console to get at the connections or is there a simple method?

2) Is there anything else you guys can think might cause her to run rich? I'm not shy of a spanner just not very familiar with this engine / ECU (looks pretty standard stuff for 1995, no MAF sensor though which surprised me)

3) What is spark plug gap to be set at?

3) Any idea what timing should be set at?

Thanks in advance guys.

Best regards,

Rich

May 22, 2008

Well I bit the bullet last night and attempted to remove the o2 sensor of which there is only one on my model...

How to :

No doubt the nuts on the sensor will be rusted solid, they certainly were on mine, took some doing but managed to get them off with a small pair of grips and plenty of WD40.

To get at the connections in the car you have to remove the foot rest, undo the screw behind brake pedal, remove the side panel off the centre console and pull back the carpet. Once you are there it's pretty obvious how to get it all out.

Hope this helps if anyone else is tasked with swapping out their o2 sensor. I would recommend stainless steel nuts & washers to secure your new sensor given the state of the old ones on mine.

Just as a last note it seems that the sensor is a pretty standard 4 wire o2 sensor. It's the fact that it's mounted on a plate instead of being screwed into the exhaust (like most jap cars) that makes the real difference, oh and another £50 for the privilege of it being mounted on said plate, think if it goes again I’m going to get a nut welded into the exhaust and put a standard 4 wire one in...

Best regards,

Rich

May 22, 2008

Nice work Rich

I certainly couldn't answer your questions because I'm not familiar with the 4.1 (although I would love one as a toy!). Bothy tends to know a lot about them but he has a habit of snipping any wires that don't stop the engine running and throwing what ever it was connected to under the caravan or if that is full, under next doors hedge. I think his RAVs are O2 sensorless!

May 23, 2008

It gets better !

The £90+ VAT o2 sensor I ordered is a standard !Removed! sensor (£40) with a 'mounting plate', check it out...

New one being on left and old one on right.

Not only that but the mounting plate snapped clean in half when I bolted it to the exhaust pipe - now I'm tasked with repairing the dam thing unless I can find a replacement, which I very much doubt I can :(

Parts-King - any chance of getting one ?

Cheers

Rich

May 30, 2008

Got through MOT even with the mounting plate for the o2 sensor cracked.

Repaired it with some steel putty I got from Maplin's (the stuff that you kneed together to activate it) not an ideal solution as this stuff is only good for temps of around 70-90 degrees C, but it seems to be holding - even if it does smell a bit funny. Hopefully it will hold long enough for me to find time to make a new plate.

I'll post a pic of my abortion when I get chance :-)

Rich

(no longer running rich)