Ron,
The oxygen sensor is a regularly scheduled replacement item.  Check with 
your maintenance schedule.  There is no service reminder light on 1988 
and later models, most of which have a 60,000 mile interval.  Or just 
have a shop equipped with the right testing equipment test it.  Testing 
is different for sensors depending on what FI system you have.   

Erik Peterson
Vehicle Research Institute

On Sun, 8 Jun 1997, Ron Clayton wrote:

> Hello Vanagoners!?:
> 
> I am new to the list so excuse me if I miss some net protocol or other.
> 
> I've been following the conversation about the o2 sensor with some
> interest.................................I did not know about the reset
> button=8A pity!
> 
>         Here is my story: In 1984 I ordered from the factory a brand new
> marine blue Wolfsberg edition weekender with the curtain and screen
> package, wide whale corduroy seats, gray stripe =8Ashe was a beauty!
> 
> 18K miles on sabbatical trip to DC. And the heads fail.  I was fortunate
> enough to be near Christiansberg VA.  Where a really good dealership
> mechanic did the rebuild, I rented a car and went back to DC. For a week.
> VW of America picked up the tab and I had no more serious trouble until
> around 90k when, you guessed it, the -light- comes on.  At this point I'm
> living 200 miles away from the nearest dealership and a shade tree mechanic
> in Jonesboro AR sez to me: SheEOOT!  =8ADon't mean nothin' but instead of
> punching that reset button he disconnected the o2 sensor!  =8AEngine begins
> running rich, no one can set the idle properly, cat.converter eventually
> burns out.  I still got 120k miles out of her but she never was quite
> right, often had gas in the oil and other associated problems.   Ironically
> it was not the engine but the automatic transmission that finally did her
> in, another botched repair, this time of a simple O-ring seal leak!  In
> 1992 traded her in on a new '91 burgundy and gray GL with all the extras.
> The Dealer told me he sent old blue off to California where "they're a lot
> more popular and someone will appreciate her enough to do the needed work".
> Aside from a slight ding in the sliding door just ahead of the rear wheel
> well she was pristine inside and out.
> 
> Postscript: my '91 does not have the illconceived dash light and she is
> nearing her 90k milestone, I really love her too so how do I know when the
> o2 sensor actually does need attending to?
> 
> '91 GL
> Living in Cape Girardeau, MO
> Artist/College Professor.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>