company news about Can I still drive with a faulty NOx sensor?

In the case of a NOx sensor failure, the vehicle can usually still travel short distances, but it needs to be repaired as soon as possible to avoid potential risks. The following is a specific analysis and suggestions:

Feasibility and precautions

Feasibility of short-term driving
NOx sensors are mainly used to monitor the concentration of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas and ensure that emissions meet standards. Its failure will not directly cause the vehicle to lose power or stop immediately. If the fault is caused by loose wiring, poor connector contact or probe contamination, it can continue to drive after cleaning or reinstalling.

Potential risks

Exceeding emissions: The sensor cannot accurately detect the concentration of nitrogen oxides, which may cause exhaust emissions to exceed environmental protection standards.
Degradation of engine performance: Long-term failures may indirectly affect air-fuel ratio adjustment, causing problems such as increased fuel consumption or unstable idle speed.
Other parts are damaged: Continuous emission abnormalities may put pressure on components such as the three-way catalytic converter.
Troubleshooting and solutions

Priority inspection items

Wiring and connectors: Confirm that the sensor harness is firmly connected and there is no short circuit or looseness.
Probe status: Clean the surface dirt. If the probe is physically damaged, it needs to be replaced.
Exhaust pressure and exhaust gas composition: Check whether the exhaust pressure is normal, and pay attention to whether the NO₂ ratio in the exhaust gas is abnormal (affecting the measurement accuracy).

Diagnosis and repair process

Read the fault code through the diagnostic instrument to locate the specific problem.
If the sensor itself fails or ages, it needs to be replaced directly with a new part.
After the repair, it is recommended to clear the fault code and conduct a road test to verify that the emission system has returned to normal.
Comprehensive suggestions
Emergency treatment: If the vehicle does not shake severely or the fault light flashes, it can be driven to the maintenance point for a short distance, but avoid long-distance or high-speed driving.
Regulatory requirements: Some areas have strict restrictions on vehicles with emission faults on the road, which need to be judged in combination with local policies.
Long-term impact: Ignoring the fault may trigger other system protection mechanisms (such as limiting torque) and even affect the annual inspection results.

If you need to further confirm the type of fault, it is recommended to contact professional maintenance personnel to use special equipment for detection.