First post here and to start, yes I read a crap load before posting this and am still at a loss.

I recent purchased my 92 pickup with a 22RE in it. Ran good for about a month and then has a surging idle and stumbling issue. After checking all vacuum lines, cleaning the throttle body, cleaning upper intake manifold, testing the TPS and setting it back to specs, and checking all injectors with a stethoscope, i still had the problem.

At this point, I purchased a new Idle Air Control valve (IACV), put it on and it ran good. Then I checked my ignition timing with a timing light and it was at 1 degree. 😳. Got it to approximately 5.5 degrees and BOOM it ran great….. for about 3 hours.

Now it started stumbling after it got up to temp and would completely die even at idle. Got a lot of black smoke and a gasoline smell from the tail pipe. Did some reading and everything pointed to a bad O2 sensor. The truck later confirmed my O2 suspicion when it there the code for the O2 sensor.

I crawl under the truck to make sure it’s not a loose/bad connection and there is NO O2 sensor anywhere. And I mean anywhere!

checked in with the previous owner who said when he replaced the exhaust system, he didn’t feel it was necessary to put the catalytic converter or weld bings on in order to put the O2 sensors back on…….

so I’m wondering, how did he drive it for 5 years with no issues from no O2 sensor, and why would it be biting me in the rear after replacing the IACV? And I’m trying to dig out where exactly I need to weld on a hung for a new O2 sensor and if I need to weld a cat back on it for propped operation.

also it is worth noting that the engine is set up for California emissions and here in Ky we do not have emissions testing.

 

I read a post saying that it will run without an O2 sensor based on the factor settings in the ECU, but not optimally. Maybe he dumped it right after the new 'no O2 sensor' exhaust because of these issues0. You could just install a OEM Exhaust manifold that has the bung in it. Aftermarket ones are cheap.,

 

So it doesn’t matter where the O2 sensor is located? The electrical connection for the O2 sensor is still there, just under the cab. I was a welder for 11 years, so if need be I can weld a bung for it directly on the pipe, but that’s if it would work.

 

Your truck originally had a bung in the downpipe. Welding another one in where the O2 pigtail will properly reach would be the right thing to do.

Only the earliest 22re's used that exhaust manifold O2 sensor placing.

 

Mine is an 86 22RE and has the manifold location.

 

I think '87 is the last year of manifold placement.

@ JoeS.. I rekon yours is a one wire sensor.

With no O2 sensor heater (as in the multiple wire sensors), the manifold heat was essential to getting fairly rapid feedback to the ECU.

 

92 22RE is definitely on the down pipe. I had to change my O2 sensor after coolant ruined it from a head gasket leak. I did get a sporadic O2 sensor code. New sensor fixed it.

 

Yep, just one wire. Cheap and easy to replace.

 

one wire?

 

On my 86 just one wire O2 sensor. I replace it every 75,000 miles. Buy Bosch from RockAuto for ~$30. Like shocks that seem OK until you replace them and feel the difference. Same with my O2 at 75,000 miles. Can feel it is more responsive.

RockAuto O2 sensor for a 92 looks to have a 2=prong plug (2-wires/).


VS the 86 with one prong-plug