Code 76 + bad fuel economy = dead o2 sensor?

[teamkiller]

G'day guys,
Well my VS V6 is getting about 350km per tank. I noticed it kicks out black exhaust when I hammer the oranges, it seems to be all over the rear of the car aswell (black car, didn't notice before). Mate says its probably running rich, I just checked the codes and I got:
Code 76 - Air/Fuel ratio variation between left and right banks.

Whats the bet its my o2 sensor? I want to get it fixed as soon as I'm sure.

Thanks

[88GreenVN]

G'day guys,
Well my VS V6 is getting about 350km per tank. I noticed it kicks out black exhaust when I hammer the oranges, it seems to be all over the rear of the car aswell (black car, didn't notice before). Mate says its probably running rich, I just checked the codes and I got:
Code 76 - Air/Fuel ratio variation between left and right banks.

Whats the bet its my o2 sensor? I want to get it fixed as soon as I'm sure.

Thanks

Good move to replace the o2 sensors - improve economy and save $$$

[immortality]

doesn it ahve a slightly rough idle? it can also be a purge hose that has come off the TB. it attaches to the bottom of the TB with a 90 degree elbow. this is a common problem and Holden changed the elbow to eliminate the problem

[ephect]

could be the o2 sensors, if your still getting the code after changing them, u'll need to cut the pink wire to ur drivers side o2 sensor, its the heater wire

[teamkiller]

okay thanks for the replies, my mate's got a pit so i'll snip the right pinky n report back on fuel consumption in a week or so! ps, sorry to sound like a douche but what is a TB, immortality?

[ephect]

TB = Throttle Body

im 95% certain its the pink wire, i would do a quick search in this section, for pink or violet, its one of those 2.

[Michelson4301]

I had the same code, plagued me for 18months, replaced O2's twice (4 in total) replaced all the wiring to 02 sensor on the left side. Found that the earth wire to the block and chassis were to blame. This problem had burnt the oxy signal earth reference wire out in no time. It's good as gold now and the headlights are brighter than ever before.

[VS_Pete_1]

These ones????

[teamkiller]

Well just snipped it, hoping for the best, will report back, No need to jack the car, you can access the drivers side o2 sensor wiring from the engine bay. from engine bay side of plug is black purple black pink, from under the car its differnt, 2 browns, a purple and a black i think. anywayz cheers

[VS_Pete_1]

I`m watching you.lol
Please report back.

[teamkiller]

well i'm over 200km now with over half a tank, things are looking good. hoping for 500km will report back

[immortality]

sounds like your on a winner there

[VS_Pete_1]

^^^
Looking good.

[teamkiller]

yep refilled at 420km with 2 notches left, cudda got 500 easy, defs made a difference, is this a problem with all VS commodores? probably the reason people call them fuel guzzlers. i filled up with BP ultimate, gonna use it from now on, n keep my baby clean.

[VS_Pete_1]

Great mate what sort of driving??

[teamkiller]

moderate, bit of go here and there

[VS_Pete_1]

These ones????

Guys I think this file is wrong.
Have a look at it you can see the alternator at the top.
On a ecotec motor it is on the other side of the motor.
And I looked for the points I can`t see them.

[Surfwagon]

could be the o2 sensors, if your still getting the code after changing them, u'll need to cut the pink wire to ur drivers side o2 sensor, its the heater wire

Having a similar problem now myself.
What do you mean just cut the pink wire.
What do you do after cutting the wire and what does cutting the pink wire do and with out what happens to the o2 sensor.

[Michelson4301]

By cutting the pink wire you are disabling the heater circuit in the oxygen sensor. This means it takes longer for the oxygen sensor to get to minimum temp and in simple terms trim your fuel to the correct ratio.

[Brin]

What effect would snipping the wire on a working o2 ssr have?

[Michelson4301]

on a WORKING 02 sensor would cause it to take longer to temp so maybe use more/less fuel depending on the tune of your vehicle ie.blocked fuel filter/blocked air filter etc.

[ephect]

Having a similar problem now myself.
What do you mean just cut the pink wire.
What do you do after cutting the wire and what does cutting the pink wire do and with out what happens to the o2 sensor.

The VS's had a bad ground or a common ground at the ECU, and the drivers side heater circuit causes interference, which gives incorrect readings. cutting the pink wire disables the heater curcuit, and any interference.

By cutting the pink wire you are disabling the heater circuit in the oxygen sensor. This means it takes longer for the oxygen sensor to get to minimum temp and in simple terms trim your fuel to the correct ratio.

Ur on the ball! yes it takes a little longer to get to operating temp before the ECU can actually use the sensor for adjusting fuel ratios.

[Surfwagon]

The VS's had a bad ground or a common ground at the ECU, and the drivers side heater circuit causes interference, which gives incorrect readings. cutting the pink wire disables the heater curcuit, and any interference.
yes it takes a little longer to get to operating temp before the ECU can actually use the sensor for adjusting fuel ratios.

Thanks ephect for the reply.
So just making sure I have this correct.
This extra time would only be while engine is warming up I gather and once engine is at operating temp the O2 sensor should be hot enough to read properly while the engine is running even at idle.
Am i right in that the early VN-VP's only had a 2 wire O2 sensor with out the heater function.

Cheers SW

[immortality]

Thanks ephect for the reply.
So just making sure I have this correct.
This extra time would only be while engine is warming up I gather and once engine is at operating temp the O2 sensor should be hot enough to read properly while the engine is running even at idle.
Am i right in that the early VN-VP's only had a 2 wire O2 sensor with out the heater function.

Cheers SW

yep, VN/VP/VR had 1 and 2 wire O2 sensors. VS was the first with the 4 wire heated O2 sensors and holden screwed the pooch on that one. something else to try is cleaning the 2 earthing points at the block next to the water pump, this is where the earthing is for the O2 sensors ( one for each sensor as well as a few other things)

i have read that if there is a difference in resistance between the 2 earth points(potenial difference, on the block) it also causes this fault. may beworth a try before snipping wires

[VS_Pete_1]

^^^
So is that pdf picture right for a VS?.
I didn`t see any wires.