Can anyone explain how an oxygen sensor works in an automobile engine.?

Does your car have the problem when it is cold? If it does than it isn't your O2 sensor. O2 does not kick in and effect engine performance until the engine is warm.

Pull trouble codes I believe a failed O2 will set one.

The sensor is made of metals that reast with oxygen in the hot exhaust gassesand create a voltage. the computer interprets this voltage and compares it to water temperature and other inputs to conteol the fuel injectors. If the sensor fails the computer will go into closed loop operation and set thye mixture rich (excess gasoline) and use more gas. The excess gas will wash the lubricant off the culinders and cause premature wear and smoke and make the exhaust smell real bad and the catalytic converter may get real hot among other things. The car will not pass emission inspection either.

The misfiring cylinder is inflicting the "no interest" dtc related to the 02 sensor as while a cylinder misfires,there is alot of oxygen interior the exhuast via fact the gas did no longer burn.that's what instruments a no interest code via fact the 02 sensor will examine a lean circumstance via misfire.If the noid gentle become put in to the #6 injector harness and easily flashed dim,you maximum possibly have a undesirable connection in that circuit between the injector and the engine controll module.Get a schematic and examine the resistance of the two those circuits.you're able to additionally quickly change injector harnesses to make yet another harness hearth #6 and notice if the misfire variations cylinders,you're able to ought to apply a jumper harness to try this. If the resistance exams out sturdy,you have a vulnerable motive force for #6 injector interior the engine administration module.

it reads the temperature of the exhaust and sends that info to the computer which adjusts the fuel mixture for a proper burn of the fuel.

A bad O2 sensor will cause the car to run very badly and usually the check engine light will come on.

try this link :

http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/dec2002/mech.cfm