check engine codes 173,176

[graff104]

Well Here i am with codes both stored in the memory hoping for a little help from the genius ranger station guys.
173 (M) Oxygen sensor not switching - system is or was rich - Single, Right or Rear HO2S - Fuel control
176 (M) Oxygen sensor not switching - system is or was lean Left or Front HO2S - Fuel control

A little background information. About once or twice a month I drive for 3 hours to go see my girlfriend. (yeah it's a long drive but my ranger does a good job). Around halfway I have to slow down driving through Tulsa. (From like 75-80 to 65ish) I get a check engine light when slowing down, but when i get back up to speed it goes away. It also comes on when either I'm slowing down getting to her town or coming back to mine.

Any ideas on this? One says rich one says lean... one says right or rear the other says left or front... Any ideas here? Also does anybody know how to test the oxygen sensors? I don't have the money right now to throw parts at this.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[TomB1269]

I had a 95 Windstar would through codes for O2 sensors only after driving on highway at speed for over an hour and a half. If I drop an hour on the hiway and then got off and drove another hour on backroads it would not do it. The only solution I had was to replace the O2 sensors, the determination was that they had gone soft and were senitive to the constant heat of high speed running.

 

[graff104]

I had a 95 Windstar would through codes for O2 sensors only after driving on highway at speed for over an hour and a half. If I drop an hour on the hiway and then got off and drove another hour on backroads it would not do it. The only solution I had was to replace the O2 sensors, the determination was that they had gone soft and were sensitive to the constant heat of high speed running.

Yeah its around an hour and a half of driving that does this. I figured it was heating bugging out a sensor that was giving me the problem then when I get back up to speed I have enough air movement to cool it back off. Im trying to decide if I want to pay the cash to replace them though. Ill look at prices tonight and then decide how if I can afford it or not right now. Any idea what will happen if I wait to change them?

 

[graff104]

Any other wise ranger station members have any words of advice before i blow my next paycheck on o2 sensors?