In article <ii8rgv4dmqtvt7vs2ph8kdds08vknqeu5b@4ax.com>,
Roger <rkohen@hotmail.comDELETETHIS.GOV> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I have a '97 Honda Civic LX (auto, 1.4 EFI). I recently had a
>front-end collision, and after I got the car back from the body shop,
>I found out that an oxygen sensor had one of its wires cut, presumably
>from the radiator bracket that was pushed it from the collision.
>
>The problem for me is that I have to wait two weeks before I can have
>the sensor replaced because of some bureaucratic mess at the insurance
>company. Driving the car as is, I'm experiencing a sudden drop in rpm
>or no revving up or accellation with the pedal down, especially when
>the engine is hot and driving on freeways.
>
>My question is whether I can disconnect the oxygen sensor for now
>until I get it replaced without doing any major harm. FYI, I believe
>Civic has two O2 sensors, and it is the one mounted near the exhaust
>manifold that is broken on mine. The one below the catalytic converter
>seems okay.
>
>Two additional questions:
>
>1. Why didn't the malfunctioning O2 sensor register in the computer
>module? I don't have a scanner, but the check-engine light is off.
>
>2. Why am I getting such a wide range of quotes for an O2 sensor? Even
>at Pep Boys, one store quoted me $46, and another $300+!!!
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>-Roger
><rkohen@hotmail.comDELETETHIS.GOV>

My 97 Civic also didn't detect when the O2 sensor plugged up enough that
the car ran badly. This could be related to the Honda's OBD tampering
that got them busted by the EPA and CARB.

Disconnect the sensor and drive the car very gently. You don't want to
melt out your catalytic converter. Better yet, buy a new one and get
reimbursed when your insurance company gets it's crap together.