Please keep in mind I have very little knowledge of how electricity works and how atoms behave.
So I want to know exactly how the PCM or ECM receives a signal from a one wire oxygen sensor in a car.
I know that the sensor creates it’s own power by comparing exhaust air to reference air inside an element which creates a small voltage I’m just uncertain how the ecm reads this voltage. Since the sensor is grounded to the chassis of the vehicle my mind instantly goes to “The electrons will follow the path of least resistance” and flow to ground instead of following the signal wire to be red by the ecm.
I believe it’s the same concept with single wire crankcase sensors as well.
Please use the water analogy if possible. It helps me understand the concept better.
In: Engineering
The electricity flows from the cars computer, thru the o2 sensor element, then to ground thru the sensor body. The amount of o2 present changes the elements resistance and thus the flow of current thru it. The ecm is essentially measuring the resistance of the sensor like a voltmeter would
Latest Answers