Mystery object found in exhaust

[MarkH]

Any idea what this might be? I removed the exhaust to do some work on it and this fell out. It was upstream of the catalytic converter. I just want to be reassured that it's nothing that came from the engine. It's just under 1/2" in diameter. I'm not sure that would even fit past an open exhaust valve. The van is an '86. 13056

[llamavan]

Have you checked your O2 sensor? That looks (to me) a lot like the portion that protrudes into the exhaust ...

Gwen

[MarkH]

Good call. I never even thought of the O2 sensor. The bolts on mine are completely rusted so the bolt or nut heads aren't even hex anymore so I don't think I could get it off and back on without drilling/tapping/welding/etc. The van runs fine with no codes (except for a #11, which is the AC switch).

[timsrv]

I agree with Llamavan, that looks like part of an O2 sensor. BTW, Code 11 is usually due to a failed Throttle Position Sensor (TPS). The AC switch being on can also cause a code 11, but that doesn't usually happen. Tim