Deckplate mod/Bad a/f ratio sensor

I recently (as in today) took my truck (2003 3.4L V6) in for a diagnostic as the CEL has been on for a while. Guy said it's a bad Air/Fuel ratio sensor. I did the deckplate mod probably 5-6 years back and have mostly left the plate out unless it was raining or snowing a lot. Could the deckplate mod be connected to this sensor going bad?

 

Probably just its time, my factory one went out last month in my 03. They are super easy to replace, I would suggest getting the Denso one, unless you don't mind paying for the OEM.

 

mine was not super easy to replace. Nuts were rusted so bad they looked like globs of rusted metal. i tried anyway and ended up snapping a bolt in half. i had to drop the whole front Cat assembly to drill it out and then tap it again for another threaded bolt.
i even soaked it for over a week with Free-all.
I'm still fighting with it trying to get the pipe to seal with the manifold. i used new gaskets and it still leaks there

 

X2...Just their time to go out.