Introduction: Toyota Oxygen Sensors - Air Fuel Ratio Sensors
With the ever increasing strict standards being placed upon vehicle manufacturers to
produce vehicles with low exhaust tailpipe emissions, certain changes in the way
exhaust emissions are monitored and controlled had to be designed, engineered and
implemented in the production of new vehicles.
Earliest designs for exhaust emissions monitoring and control utilised the single wire
Oxygen Sensor (O²). Further O² sensor design progression has led to today’s heated
O² sensor (HO2S) the utilisation of multiple O² Sensors and Air Fuel Ratio Sensors.
The introduction of the OBD II standard calls for far tighter control of exhaust
emission monitoring and control. Vehicle manufacturers had to find a method to gain
a greater control the vehicles engine air/fuel ratio. Many vehicle manufacturers
already have multiple conventional O² sensors (narrow band) applications and vehicle
manufacturers (Toyota, Subaru, Honda, European vehicle makers etc.) are now using
a combination of conventional O² sensors and the latest type, the Air Fuel Ratio (wide
band) sensor.
Toyota O² sensor(s) and A/F Ratio sensor numbering and engine location is specified
as:
• The O² sensor placed before the catalytic converter (inline engine) – Sensor 1
• The O² placed after the catalytic converter (inline engine) – Sensor 2
• On a V engine (per bank O² sensors) – Bank 1 Sensor 1, Bank 2 Sensor 1
• On V engines with 2 rear converters – Bank 1 Sensor 2, Bank 2 Sensor 2
• The A/F sensor pre catalytic converter – Sensor 1
The primary function of a pre catalytic converter O² sensor is to send to the EFI
computer (ECU/PCM) variable voltage data to allow the ECU/PCM to monitor and
make corrections to the detected Air Fuel Ratio.
The rear (post) catalytic converter sensor is primarily used as a monitor for catalytic
converter efficiency. In some vehicle applications, the post catalytic converter sensor
will also have an effect on the ECU/PCM air fuel ratio control.
Titania O² Sensor Review
Toyota Titania O² Sensor
Titania O² Sensor Construction Schematic
Toyota has used the Titania O² Sensor in some vehicle applications since the late
1980’s and the early 1990’s.
The Titania sensor consists of a semiconductor ceramic material known as Titanium
Dioxide (TiO²). The sensor uses a thick film type Titania element which is formed on
the front end of a laminated substrate. The sensor element is used to detect unused
oxygen present in the exhaust gas stream after combustion has occurred.
The properties of Titania are such that its
resistance will alter to the amount of
oxygen contained in the exhaust gas
steam.
The resistance change alters sharply to
the boundary difference of the lean/rich
air fuel ratio – refer Graph 1.
Titania resistance also changes with
temperature. To help keep the
temperature at a constant level, a
heater element is built into the O² sensor
laminated substrate.
Graph 1
Toyota ECU/Titania O² Sensor Electrical Circuit
When performing diagnostics on Toyota vehicles using a Titania O² sensor, please
refer to Toyota vehicle technical service manuals for specification data and electrical
circuits.
Typical Toyota ECU and Titania O² Sensor Wiring Circuit Schematic
Toyota ECU - Titania Oxygen Sensor Circuit Schematic
Titania O² Sensor Operation - (refer to the schematic above)
The ECU supplies a potential voltage of 1.0 volt to the O²+ connection. The ECU
built in comparator circuit compares the voltage drop (changing resistance) of the
Titania O² sensor to the referenced 0.45 volt at the ECU O² sensor connection.
If the comparator circuit voltage is greater than 0.45 volt (sensor resistance is LOW)
the ECU detects that the air fuel mixture is RICH i.e. less oxygen present in the
exhaust gas stream.
If the comparator circuit voltage is less than 0.45 volt (sensor resistance is HIGH) the
ECU detects that the air fuel mixture is LEAN i.e. greater amount of oxygen present
in the exhaust gas stream.
The ECU will then make corrections to the base injector pulse width to maintain the
correct air fuel ratio. The sensor output voltage can be viewed on your Hanatech
scanner in the O² voltage data and monitored in graph mode. The voltage swings
(high/low) can also be viewed as a waveform on an oscilloscope.
Toyota Titania Oxygen Sensor Waveform
Toyota Titania O² Sensor Waveform- Known Good Sensor Waveform captured at 2500 rpm - (no load)
Note:
The waveform horizontally centred dash line at 0.45 volt represents the
stoichiometric point i.e. LAMBDA = 1 (excess air factor).
Stoichiometry = (14.7:1) or LAMBDA = 1. The symbol λ is also used to represent
Lambda
Any deviation from Lambda =1 e.g. Lambda = 0.90 indicates a 10% RICHER air
fuel ratio and Lambda = 1.20 indicates a 20% LEANER air fuel ratio than the ideal
air fuel ratio of stoichiometry = 14.7:1
The Toyota Titania O² sensor waveform shown above was captured using a PICO
212/50 PC based oscilloscope.
For information on pricing and availability of the PICO range of PC based
oscilloscopes please contact Mount AutoEquip.
