Paint fumes messes up my cars vehicle emission thingy?

Question

My parents keep telling me not to keep my car in the garage when I am painting because the fumes will mess up my cars vehicle emission thingy dingy... (?)

..something about how a car has something which keeps track of the gas in the car or..something and that the fumes from paint will mess with it and then you have to go to the dealership to have it reset??

WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

Answer 1

Why don't you just ask them?

Answer 2

I asked my dad he said, "Yes it will mess it up." He asked why would you have your car in the garage when you're painting anyway. What if paint gets on it? But yeah it's a good idea to keep it parked outside just to be safe...

Answer 3

It won't affect it.  

Answer 4

I say you need to keep your parents away from the paint fumes  ;-)

Answer 5

I suspect they are talking about the O2 sensor.  However, since it is located in the exhaust pipe, between the exhaust manifold and the muffler, I do not see how any paint fumes can get to it.