2nd time O/2 sensor is needing replacing

[Astroman]

Well yesterday evening while driving in town I noticed an on/off jerkiness feeling while accelerating. About 5 minutes later the Yaris threw me a check engine light with code P2195 (first O/2 sensor on the header). Had it checked out and I need a new sensor.

About 5 years ago (maybe 6) I had replaced my stock header with a DC Sports header and had to get a new O/2 sensor put on as the old one broke. My question is how long should an O/2 sensor last and why would it suddenly start acting up? The car sat for nine and a half months last year (got it back mid September) but other than that it's pretty much been a daily driver with spirited driving. Would mods have anything to do with it? AEM CAI, 1ZZ tb, DC Sports header, custom built manaflow axleback.

The new O/2 sensor that is getting put in Tuesday (soonest I could get one and get it installed) will have a lifetime warranty.

Anyway, I'm just curious why it would go out all of a sudden like that..

[CTScott]

If you can, post a picture of the bad one when it comes out.

The two main killers of 02 sensors are heat (due to plugged catalytic converters) and buildup (due to fuel additives, bad fuel, or coolant leaks).

[Astroman]

Ok I'll post the picture Tuesday. I could tell my cousin didn't drive the car at all because when I finally got it started it ran rough and had black smoke. I cleared it out my revving the motor until whatever had been sitting broke free. Car has worked fine since September until Friday. Will be interesting to see what it looks like.

[Blown_xa]

Id say up to 90k miles if not boosted and all is well. Like someone mentioned, contaminates in the exhaust along with added heat can shorten the life. Leaded fuel killed my o2 sensor in a week.

[Astroman]

I had just hit 133k miles when it went, and it is possible that I put the header on 90k miles ago because I waited until my warranty was up before I put on the aftermarket header. The last two places I got gas was Fred Meyer and Costco but that's never given me grief before. I guess I'll find out more tomorrow when it comes out.

[Astroman]

Well here it is. Ive driven maybe 30 miles since the o2 sensor went out. The wire and connector looked fine.

[CTScott]

That does look pretty sooty for 40K miles.

[Astroman]

It actually has at least 90k miles. Also last September when I started my car for the first time in 9 months it blew out black smoke for 3-4 minutes and ran rough. I dunno why it was fine until last Friday. I did smell gas a few times yesterday and today until it was replaced. Also like the last one in the oem header were both stuck pretty good.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Astroman

It actually has at least 90k miles. Also last September when I started my car for the first time in 9 months it blew out black smoke for 3-4 minutes and ran rough. I dunno why it was fine until last Friday. I did smell gas a few times yesterday and today until it was replaced. Also like the last one in the oem header were both stuck pretty good.

Even for 90K it looks more sooty that I would like to see. That is probably from that black smoke episode. It may just be that the gas got pretty skunky sitting for that long (although Crashy is still running on the gas that has been in her since I picked her up in 09).