One of the most important components in a car engine is the oxygen sensor. It generally helps any car alongside its engine to run smoothly and efficiently without causing too much pollution. Accordingly, if the oxygen sensor is at fault and unfortunately broken down, it needs to be repaired and replaced as soon as possible since it will cause a lot of damage to the engine of the car.
Repairing and replacing the parts of the sensor also means spending quite a few dollars. Now, the overall cost of oxygen sensor is dependent mainly on the model of the needed parts and model of the car since each car engine has its own respective sensors.
Fortunately, the repairing and replacing as a whole is an easy and undemanding thing to do. You may opt to do the tasks after purchasing the needed parts especially if you are considering working out on a tight budget. However, if you are hesitating with the scope of your knowledge about oxygen sensors and its parts, and you have the capacity to pay a little more from your pockets, then it is much better to acquire adequate replacement services from different service centers and mechanic’s garages.
The Average Cost of Oxygen Sensor Replacement
The main factor to take into account in this case is the parts because the total O2 sensor price is largely reliant on the needed parts to be repaired and replaced as mentioned above. In any automative parts store and shop, you could actually look for the parts you need at a price range of $20 to $94 depending on the model and brands.
On the other hand, if you opt to hire mechanic’s services and the like from different replacement service centers around today, make sure to consider the labor costs as well aside from the parts. The average range of cost for this option is around $113 to $478 in the recent times.
How Does An Oxygen Sensor Works?
To learn and know how much does oxygen sensor replacement costs, you have to be clued up how it actually works and functions inside the engines of your car.
Oxygen sensors work mainly as a part of the emissions controls and engage capably with the engine management computer. These functions help in totality the car and its engines to run smoothly and efficiently without hampering the Earth’s atmosphere due to pollution.There are two main concerns that an oxygen sensor answers to.
Primarily, it answers to prevent the occurences of a rich mixture. This is very chaotic since it causes excess pollution which is too harmful for the atmosphere. Now, a rich mixture is actually a product of an incomplete combustion of fuel because there are lesser amounts of air in the required ratio. Car engines have a specific ratio of gasoline and air that are well enough for combustion.
And secondly, the said sensor also prevents the lean mixture. This is actually the inverse of the rich mixture wherein the amounts of gas is higher than the necessary ratio. Lean mixture in general leads to severe problems and damages on the engine of the car. Furthermore, it omits excess nitrogen oxide pollutants which are also very harmful compounds for the Earth’s atmosphere.
Generally, oxygen sensors are placed in the interiors of the car engine to detect such mixtures consequently engaging with the engine management computer to adjust the ratios of gas and air preventing the further damage to happen.
Purchasing The Right Parts
There are actually two ways for you to replace and repair your oxygen sensor. If this specific part is exactly the one you are looking for, then it only means you chose or you intend to repair and replace your oxgen sensor all by yourself.
Doing it all on your own entails a lot of knowledge about the particular parts you need to purchase. Good thing that there are several convenience stores and automative shops that sell all parts you may actually need on your case. You just have to talk to the appropriate persons-in-charge to assist you obtaining the right parts.
Now, the average cost of oxygen sensor parts vary on the locations where these will be purchased. The normal range of price starts from $20 up to $94. Here are some of the stores where you can find the exact parts you need alongside its prices.
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Amazon
Amazon has become one of the prominent buy and sell platform nowadays. In actuality, almost all of the things you need in all aspects of your entire lifestyle may be purchased and obtained through the platforms of Amazon.
As per the automotive sections on their site, O2 sensor price starts at $20 which is by far the cheapest of all, while the most expensive type may be purchased at an amount of $94.
Although buying in Amazon is considered to be much of a convenience for most consumers, you must note that you have to pay as well for the shipping fees.
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Walmart
Aside from Amazon’s conveniences, another option where to look for O2 sensor parts is at any Walmart store around. The convenience store offers a lot of models and brands of oxygen sensors with prices ranging from $27 up to $40.
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Pep Boys
Pep Boys is apparently one of the preferred choices where to purchase different automative parts. The store offers a lot more than any oxygen sensors. Moreover, they also cater a 6-month warranty for any item being procured in their stores. An oxygen sensor of any brand and model may cost from $50 up to $70 if purchased from Pep Boys.
Service Centers and Mechanic’s Garages
The second option or way for you to repair and replace the oxygen sensor of your car engine is to actually avail services from different replacement centers such as mechanic’s garages. It is pretty much more convenient since your only role on this scenario is to pay for all of the recurring fees in fixing the O2 sensors.
So, how much does oxygen sensor replacement cost for this kind of option?
Aside from the prices of the parts, you also have to pay for the service and labor costs which are from time to time being rated as either on an hourly basis or on a fixed amount. The normal range of costs in hiring a mechanic to do the job of repairing and replacing your oxygen sensor starts from $113 up to $478 including the needed parts.
Usually, these prices of such services include the 12 to 24 months of warranties and money back guarantees which are far more convincing to choose rather than doing the dirty job on your own. Here are some of the top choices of service centers around today:
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Your Mechanic & Mr Tire
Your Mechanic and Mr Tire are two of the most well-known automotive servicing centers today. For a replacement of a faulty oxygen sensor, they would require you to pay amounts similar to the average prices.
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NAPA
Another good option for service centers is NAPA. The normal price range of replacing an O2 sensor is from $186 up to $420 with 24 months of warranty.
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Midas
Midas’ replacement and repair services may vary apparently with several factors. Nevertheless, the rates are inclusive starting from $145 up to $398 with 12 months warranty for the overall service.