Grampas new toy

[66ragman]

Gentlemen & Ladies of the forum,
I introduced myself a few months back and stated that I recently found and obtained an '83 Fiat Spider. WRONG. It's an '82, with 29,960 miles. After sitting in a heated, air conditioned, dry, cement floor garage for almost 30 years, and being from FL originally, it is in excellent condition. I'll skip to the point. I took the time to do all the necessary pre start precautions and changed the timing belt and idler, all the hoses and belts, new gas tank and sender unit, new fluids, tires, battery, etc, etc. It now runs like a Swiss watch and goes down the road just fine. I still have some minor things to do.
My question now is about the exhaust gas sensor. I'm told it has to be replaced at 30K and the warning light has just come on. What's up with that? What does it do? I'm going to eliminate the Cat , don't need to get an emissions test. Is the sensor necessary for the fuel injection? I'm planning a trip to FL soon and would like to clear up this question before I go.
Rog

[18Fiatsandcounting]

It's been a long time since I've had a "newer" spider, but my recollection is that the warning light was driven by a device on the back of the speedometer (or maybe the transmission) that "counted" the miles and then clicked on at 30K miles. The thought was that the oxygen sensors of that era generally had a life of about 30K miles before they started slowly going bad, although some can last for much longer times depending on the type of driving you do, the type of gas you use, etc.

Since the car is running fine, it's likely that your oxygen sensor is still OK, although I would eventually get it replaced. But, even if you replace the sensor, the warning light will stay on until you reset it by pressing a switch on that device on the back of the speedometer. Again, going by memory here.

But, Ohio to Florida (and presumably back) is a long way, and you wouldn't want the sensor to decide to quit at 31K miles. However, that's unlikely, and even if it did, the car might idle funny and your gas mileage could drop, but it would still run.

If it were me, I'd purchase a spare oxygen sensor and take it along with you, and if you have any issues, just about any repair shop could replace it and reset the light.

-Bryan

[66ragman]

Thanks Bryan, I'll do just that.
Do you know if I remove the cat converter, if or how it will affect the fuel injection? Is the O2 sensor in front or behind the cat? I'm sure this shows my ignorance but at 80 you tend to forget what you used to know without thinking. In the days of points, condenser, carbs, etc. I was comfortable but I have not been actively wrenching since then. Did I mention that I was around when dirt was discovered, or that I was on the team that invented the wheel?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Do you know if I remove the cat converter, if or how it will affect the fuel injection? Is the O2 sensor in front or behind the cat? I'm sure this shows my ignorance but at 80 you tend to forget what you used to know without thinking. In the days of points, condenser, carbs, etc. I was comfortable but I have not been actively wrenching since then. Did I mention that I was around when dirt was discovered, or that I was on the team that invented the wheel?

Geez, Rog, you already appear to know well more than I do, at my "young-'un" age of 57!

My recollection is that the oxygen (lambda) sensor is in front of the catalytic converter. The oxygen sensor provides the data that the ECU (electronic control unit) uses to adjust the air/fuel mixture going into the car. So, I don't think that removing the catalytic converter will affect your oxygen sensor (and thus the ECU), but I could be wrong here. Of course, without a catalytic converter, you will be putting more emissions out of the tailpipe. But, my understanding is that many people remove the cat and the car works just fine from then on.

-Bryan

[66ragman]

Thanks again Bryan,
My '50 Ford had an O2 sensor, my cocker spaniel used to stick his nose out the window ,then look at me with that "All is good" look.
C ya

[F16Waldo]

Do you know if I remove the cat converter, if or how it will affect the fuel injection?

I have an 83 with a Cat "test pipe" installed. Car runs great and usually average 28-30mpg.

Waldo

[66ragman]

Thanks Waldo,
I have pretty much decided to do the same thing. I may add a shorty glass pak as a rear muff.
Rog

[RRoller123]

My temporary test pipe has caused no troubles, it is well downstream of the O2 sensor, etc.

[Nanonevol]

Nor mine. I've been "testing" it for 5 years now.

[DRUMMOND]

I took out the original cat and ran a test pipe for about six months. it got too smelly for the better half. So i put in a modern cat, believe it or not it ran better. Smells better.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R ... UTF8&psc=1

[Nanonevol]

That's odd. Don't know about the modern ones but it's usually the cat's that smell like rotten eggs.
Wonder where the smell in your car was coming from.

[66ragman]

Nanonevol ,
I see you are or were the owner of a BSA Lightning. My most loved scooter was my first year Lightning ('64) I had several BSAs A10s and Gold Star.
Rog

[Nanonevol]

Oh yeah! I went through the whole bike and just finished this summer. I like the BSA motor over the Triumph even with the plain bearing. The thing rips! I'll register it next year.

[RRoller123]

NIce!! Ride it to one of the cruises next Spring. Halifax is about the best and has some bikes. I will get my Beemer sorted hopefully by then and bring it. Or the XK8 that I am presently looking for.

[Nanonevol]

I would do that once we are all vaccinated. You're looking for a convertible?
Sorry for the hijack, 66ragman.