Hi there all -

I am generally clueless when it comes to the oxygen sensor, and was even more clueless when I unscrewed my oxygen sensor from my catalytic converter last night. I did this because I wanted to take all my muffler components off, since I posted before - my header pipe just plain broke and since that post I was working on getting the bolts out in the flange between my header pipe and my catalytic pipe. I ended up cutting with a hacksaw in between the 2 flanges, but then I was left wanting to still use my catalytic converter to attach to my new header pipe, so I was gonna try and drill the bolt pieces out of the catalytic conv. flange so I could screw my new bolts that are coming with my new header pipe right in. Once all the muffler was out of the car (rear of the broken header), I pulled my car out of the garage - no problems except the same loud noise from the broken muffler.
I helped a buddy with his truck for about an hour, then I went to move my car again, and it will not stay started.
I freaked out, and tried to read about the oxygen sensor (something I should have done long before fiddling with it), and learned that the oxygen sensor does not even start working until reaching it's operating temperature, before which time the ECU is doing the task of air/fuel mixture.
My question is: why would my car not start w/o the oxy. sensor in if the ECU is supposedly doing the job? I have no reason to believe the ECU is damaged, I dont' even know where it is, but all was working fine before I did all this crazy stuff! I start the car, everything seems to work except it's like it's not getting the right gas mixture and it simply will not stay started, it just dies out.


I apologize for the long post, and probably the general simplicity of this question, but I'm freaking out a bit since the car won't start and I'm just wondering if anyone can clue me in as to why the car won't start. Many thanks to all who consider my question, and to those who helped me figure out my car's chassis range in my last post.

Regards,
Travis