Last week on the way to Italy my oxygen sensor, before the cat, gave up the ghost, I was already at the Austrian border. I have no explanation for this other than age and wear. The only special thing was that we were in hot sunny weather 1.5 hours in stop and go on the German highway. The error occurred when I could really give full throttle again for the first time after the traffic jam. It was, as in Germany also, not possible to get a sensor in a store, not in Merano and not in Trento. Today everything is bought online, also the repair garages have nothing in spare stock. Very understandable when you see the variety of sensor models. But mostly the voltage jump sensors differ only in cable length and plug shape. Error code P0030, so really the oxygen sensor was faulty and not an indirect other error like false air. I could also see in the live diagram that the voltage jump no longer succeeds. I was worried about the engine because I could not order a sensor in a short time beeing underway. I also wanted to keep the issue small so that we could enjoy the vacation as a group and not suddenly focus on the repair.
The emergency run can be much too rich so that nothing is broken by uncontrolled lean stage. But you should drive it only a short time. But I still had 1,800 km ahead of me. Judging by the consumption, the engine did not run much too rich, about 6.0 liters per 100km. Of course, it may be that the dynamics of the mix control does not adequately adapt, in other words, you can have phases that are too lean and other phases that are too rich. Now I am happily back home. My 4/4 didn't let me down although it's a queasy feeling to drive with limited engine control for so long, especially in long tunnels. The camshaft timing was disabled, the power was felt at 80 hp instead of normal 145 hp. I drove the engine very gently and always left it in the mid-range. Tomorrow I'll install the new sensor that has already arrived, as I need to get a slotted oxygen sensor nut or a 22 wrench first.
