John Elway

I'm stuck. I've been having a leaking valve cover gasket for about 4 months now. I just recently found out that a bad o2 sensor can cause catalytic converter problems. I think my o2 sensor is the cause of my engine surge (car seems to stay a one gear til I hit 40mph sometimes 60). I'm kind of tight on money right now and plan on having one if these jobs done next week, my question is which is the more urgent repair? The valve cover gasket replacement or the oxygen sensor?

tester123

I'd say go with valve cover gasket. Unmeasured air in intake can sometimes throw off things and cause different codes to pop up.

Fixing the VC gaskets may or may not cure your o2 issues but, after replacing VCs, I'd clear codes and see if they come back.

John Elway

Thanks for the input. I was going to go with the valve covers as well I just needed to hear it from someone else lol thanks

jcman

What engine do you have?

John Elway

2.8l

redbullgotwings

i would say o2 sensors so i guess its personal preference. If you do the VCG you will want to make sure you buy the updated oil cap that relives pressure. you also might need a new pancake valve on your PCV system.

but i would do the O2 sensors.

p.s. there is no way your car is staying in one gear until 40-60 mph unless your car starts off in 2nd and doesnt shift until 6000 rpm.

John Elway

Thanks for the information. And sorry your right, it will shift one time somewhere between 15-25mph (if I remember correctly) but from there on it won't shift until a little over 60mph with the rpm meter almost at 5000. I was told that this was called surging and I still don't know what the cause of it is. By the way, no I'm not trying to accelerate to light speed, I am very VERY soft on the gas to try an prevent it because it's completely random. Once it starts, it doesn't stop no matter how fast or slow I accelerate. It'll stop (sometimes) when I come to a complete stop. Sometimes I have to put the car in park and sit a few seconds.

redbullgotwings

What if you put it in tiptronic? Can you manually shift between gears?

John Elway

Haven't tried shifting manually neither do I know how. I have no experience with manual transmissions