Possible to drive Focus for 3 months with faulty 02 sensor?

[samsock]

My partner has a 2006 ford focus petrol 1.6.

The EML light has been on for about 3 months, code

P0030 – Heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) 1, bank 1, heater control

Other than (perhaps) being a big sluggish when cold (not severe enough to be sure) there have been no symptoms and it passed the MOT emissions test about a month in....

We live rural so it's a massive pain to get to the garage as we need the car everyday....

I've looked and there seems to be 4 similar sensors by the cat, it could be.

1. is it fixable DIY?
2. We are buying a new car probably in 3 months. Can we just wing it?
3. Is it dangerous to drive the car, assuming we don't care about damage to engine etc.

The car cosmetically is a real banger, but other than this sensor, it's driven perfectly for years. So not sure we would get much in resale.

[tapkaJohnD]

This sensor is one of a pair, either side of the catalyst in your exhaust pipe. It allows the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to know how accurately it is fuelling the engine so that it runs as economically as possible. The sensor needs to run exhaust hot, several hundred degrees, and the heater allows it to do so more quickly that it would from a cold start. So despite that, the sensor my be operating fine, once it's warmed up. But not if you use the car for short trips. Ways to tell - an emission test, or else a oscilloscope on the sensor output.

A new sensor is about £10 to buy, more if you need to get someone to fit it. But an old sensor can be as good as welded to the exhaust manifold and need a lot of work to remove cleanly. Could get pricey, so if the car is worth buttons, let it go.
JOhn

[samsock]

tapkaJohnD said:

This sensor is one of a pair, either side of the catalyst in your exhaust pipe. It allows the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to know how accurately it is fuelling the engine so that it runs as economically as possible. The sensor needs to run exhaust hot, several hundred degrees, and the heater allows it to do so more quickly that it would from a cold start. So despite that, the sensor my be operating fine, once it's warmed up. But not if you use the car for short trips. Ways to tell - an emission test, or else a oscilloscope on the sensor output.

A new sensor is about £10 to buy, more if you need to get someone to fit it. But an old sensor can be as good as welded to the exhaust manifold and need a lot of work to remove cleanly. Could get pricey, so if the car is worth buttons, let it go.
JOhn

Thanks John that's all super useful.

MPG seems about normal and it passed the MOT emissions test, so mabye it's just the heater .

So it's not dangerous to drive then? Safety is the only real concern as we don't expect to do any further work on it before we buy the new car.

[HustleRussell]

It’s not a safety issue and almost certainly won’t immobilise the car at any point. Run it into the ground. Also I would add to what has already been said that the new sensor (just the part without fitting) could easily cost £100 or more rather than £10.

[samsock]

Into the ground it is!

I better keep an eye on any hidden codes though.

Cheers