VS v6 error code 65: LH oxy sensor rich

[kramer]

ok so got my first check engine warning today,
just got back from 3000+km of driving up to northern qld and back with no errors, now i got one..

error code 65 left hand oxygen sensor rich...

the car certainly runs rich, the absolute best economy i could achieve through the trip is 620km / 55L fuel which is about 8.8l / 100km and that's running premium with a delcowizzid tune.

before the trip i changed the oil and filter to nulon 10w30 high performance,
installed new oxygen sensors, new fuel filter, ripped out the roll bars and tub liner, inspection plate and fuel tank to check for fuel leaks / perished lines, they were all good.

since it's still using too much fuel any thoughts on what's wrong with it?

i'm thinking change the coolant temp sensor next?

still have a fuel smell in the cabin somedays which i can't for the life of me find a leak...

the light came on while the car had been running for about 2 minutes and driving slowly up the road at about 40kph, i'm pretty gentle on it before it's warm.

other than this problem so far no issues at all with reliability.

[-=ApheX=-]

I had similar issues recently, I replaced an O2 sensor mid last year, and then 6 months later shat itself...
reason being i believe is that I sprayed a fair amount of thottlebody cleaner in there, and replaced the IAC, and gave the throttle a really good clean! and sure enough all the junk stuffed the sensor...
also I know a fuel smell can be evident when your o rings on your injectors are old and sh1t too...
But to be honest sounds like you need to take it to a professional?

[immortality]

best bet is to hook it up to a laptop with a ALDL cable and see what the O2 sensors are reading. maybe the earthing issue the VS models have.

did you use a genuine Holden O2 sensor? i've heard of generic sensors failing quickly before

having a look at the injector O rings ins't a bad idea, could also cause a vac leak which could also make it run rich

[kramer]

i forgot to mention, i did the oxygen sensor earth fix before installing the new one's and if i remember correctly they're either bosch or AC delco.

it's from this listing on ebay......

OXYGEN SENSOR / O2 SENSOR - 4 WIRE HOLDEN & TOYOTA - eBay, Other Car Parts, Accessories, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 07-Jan-10 18:42:52 AEDST)

they had the right plugs on them too just replace and plug in and zip tie the wires out of the way of extractors etc..

who has a laptop with an ALDL cable?!

[vs_igby]

there is also a known holden problem in the vs with the 4 wire o2 senor common earth which can cause all kinds off probs. There is a good thread on this topic in the how to's section. But if your not good with a soldering iron and understand basic car electrics i would take it to and auto elecs.

here is the thread How To: Fix the VS V6 4 Wire O2 sensor earth problem – Known Holden Problem

good luck...............

[Brett_jjj]

The 10w 30 oil you are using is to thin.It needs to be 20w 50 stuff at least.It might be burning a tiny amount of oil(which happens when oil is to thin) and its showing up as running rich .

[vs_igby]

sorry didnt see u already done the fix

[Thomas1]

best bet is to hook it up to a laptop with a ALDL cable and see what the O2 sensors are reading.

What are they supposed to read? One of mine reads 0.7XXv and the other 0.9XXv (I think that's what they read, been a while since I did a log).

[hako]

That fuel economy you quote for cruising of 8.8l/100km (or 32 mpg) is nothing to complain about in my opinion and is about what the car was good for when brand new. The code 65 can be set by many things from a plug lead bad to a blocked injector. If it only occurred after the trip it probably is not the sensor which you can test by simply swapping with the other side. The tune you have may not be designed for economy! I'd reset the codes as it may just be a one-off happening.
And I agree with Brett on oil - 20w50 especially for cruising at high speeds - thinner oils cannot seal as well at higher temperatures that happen when high speed cruising.

[aceventura]

What are they supposed to read? One of mine reads 0.7XXv and the other 0.9XXv (I think that's what they read, been a while since I did a log).

Supposed to fluctuate between 0.1V and 0.9V - At ~2500 rpm, the number of cross-counts (number of fluctuations per second) should be around 8, but preferably higher.

[pillzor]

id be stoked if i could get 600km from a tank! , delco tune here aswell.
i usually do about 380 on the highway and have about a 3rd of a tank left which goes way too fast round the city.

[The1]

im in oakey, just moving house this week but if you wanted a drive out i have laptop setup i can check your ecu and o2 sensors for you.