2002 Chrysler Town and Country Could a bad O2 sensor cause

GTHOMAS5

MEMBER
2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

Engine Performance problem
2002 Chrysler Town and Country 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

the converter to go bad, foul spark plugs, and have soot in the tail pipe? This is my daughter's car; she had a tune up and the converter replaced a few months back, and now she says fuel economy is bad, it sounds like there is a miss and soot coming out the tail pipe. I'm thinking it could be a bad injector or two, but it's a 2002 those should not be bad, right?
Any suggestions before she melts this converter.
Thanks

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,192 POSTS

How many miles are on the vehicle? Has the check engine light come on? As far as the O2 sensors, they could cause a problem with fuel economy, but if bad, the check engine light should have come on.

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Monday, June 22nd, 2009 AT 10:52 PM

GTHOMAS5

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The van has 105,000 and right now there are no codes. The engine light was on until they replaced the converter and it ran good also. That has been a couple of months ago.
So this may not be the O2 sensors, could it be a bad injector or two?

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Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 AT 9:15 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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It could be an injector but I doubt it. Usually and O2 sensor will kick the check engine light on. A bad O2 sensor will have an affect on the economy. I would try the O2 sensors before the injectors. Also, has anyone checked for a vacuum leak?

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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 12:26 PM

GTHOMAS5

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And I'll try the O2 sensors first. About the vacuum test, no as far as I know no one has done one. Could that be something that I can do if I had the right tool? And how could that affect the fuel system( maybe I'm not thinking clearly). Are you thinking about the egr or something along those lines?
Gary

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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 6:20 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

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You can use a vacuum gauge to check intake vacuum pressure, or just check under the hood for vacuum lines that are damaged or disconnected. With the engine running, sometimes you can actually hear a hissing sound.

As far as the EGR, that could be a problem too, but usually it will set a check engine light if not working properly. THere is a vacuum line going to it on the intake. Give it a check too.