The Key Mainsprings of O2 Sensor Failure in Your Jaguar

Jaguar is known for creating sophisticated, elegant, and reliable vehicles. Naturally, you want to keep your Jaguar in pristine condition, both inside and outside. Regular maintenance & attention to warning signs can help you ensure your Jaguar performs well and avoid costly repair bills at the same time.

Although hidden from view, modern vehicles have many electronic parts that are essentially to the proper functioning of the car as a whole. They are easy to forget about but should not be ignored because their condition can dictate whether or not your car runs well. This important component in your Jaguar is known as the oxygen sensor, or O2 sensor. These sensors are part of the emissions system of your vehicle and by analyzing the amount of oxygen present in exhaust gases, calculates whether your engine is running optimally or not. This is possible because the amount of oxygen present in these gases signals whether the car is running rich (too much fuel), lean (too little fuel), or normally (acceptable ratio of air to fuel).

If these sensors fail, the car is unable to monitor whether or not the air to fuel ratio is correct, meaning the car will struggle to run properly. Let’s look at what this entails.

Signs of an O2 Sensor Failure

The primary symptoms of O2 sensor failure are a reduced fuel efficiency and the engine rough running conditions, which includes abnormal noises, lack of performance, misfires, and check engine light illumination via the dashboard. Let’s discuss in detail what these symptoms look like and what they mean.

Loss of fuel economy

You might notice you are no longer getting the same amount of miles out of your Jaguar before having to refuel. Often, cars have an option to review the MPG on the dashboard. You can try this if your Jaguar has this feature to see if your recent MPG has dropped. Faulty O2 sensors can lead to improper fuel use, thus reducing the efficiency and MPG.

Rough running

Your engine is likely to run roughly, leading to a stuttering/sputtering noise, lack of power, and even misfires, which are improper combustion in one or more cylinders. With a misfire, the engine might sound like it is “missing” or “skipping.” This is because at least one of your Jaguar’s cylinders is not firing, so the combustion process is incomplete. Lack of power naturally results from this and can be felt when you press the accelerator and the car just does not move as quickly as it used to. It might also stutter or struggle to get going.

Failing O2 sensors cause this to occur because information about the air/fuel mixture’s quality is not received by the car’s computer, meaning it cannot determine the optimal ratio of air and fuel, leading to inefficient fuel usage along with generally poor running conditions.

Check-engine light

Your Jaguar has an onboard diagnostic system (OBD-II) that monitors your emissions components. If the O2 sensor fails, you will likely see the check-engine light illuminate on your dashboard. This light can of course appear for many reasons, and without any other symptoms, it is impossible to know whether the O2 system is to blame. Automotive service shops will have a scanner to read the check engine code, although these are general trouble codes, meaning further inspection is almost always needed.

It is important to note that while these are signs of O2 sensor failure, they can also be signs of other problems with your Jaguar. Having a trained professional inspect the vehicle is the best way to ensure the issue is identified and corrected as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Cerreone’s European for Your Jaguar’s O2 Sensor and Other Services

Cerreone’s European in Redwood City, CA has been in business since 1976. We are AAA approved and specialize in European vehicles, including your Jaguar. We are an independently-owned business who provides quick, quality, affordable service.

Our ASE certified technicians use specialized equipment and receive continuing training, ensuring they are up to date on all advancements and innovations. Additionally, all new clients can redeem 10% off their service bill!

We are located at 2306 El Camino Real Redwood City, California 94063. Our hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-5:00PM. Please call (650) 365-4145 to schedule an appointment today!