What types work for our car? I thought I saw a list of compatible ones somewhere here but I've searched the forums for an hour now and no luck finding it...

Also, whats the difference between the 1, 2 , 3 and 4 wire ones? Is there a difference between the before and after cat sensors? Or can they be swapped out with no problem...

Would the O2 sensor for the RD2 work for the RD1?

 

There are two different kinds of sensors Narrow and Wideband, try seaching one of those two words

http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...5&hl=narrow

 

^^ there are a bunch of different types of sensors. the 1 wire sensors are non-heated and last a short time (40,000 miles) . They were an origonal attempt, and they suck. the 2, 3 and 4 wire sensors usually last a bit longer. It's all about the construction of the material, how it reads and what not.. Now-a-days they construct O2 sensors to last 100,000 miles and they're cheaper then they started off to be.

I had to study this for my job. Here's a Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O2_sensor .

It explains alot of stuff about today's car 02 sensors, but not much about older sensors nor expected milage.

 

a non heated oxygen sensor? doesn't that kinda cancel out what there made to do? I would think they need to be, cause a car doesn't go into closed loop until the sensor warms up and reads oxygen, thats how a voltage signal gets sent to the pcm right? what years did they use these DTN? Im just curious

 

I've heard of lots of problems with people that try to run the universal o2 sensors...i think something about the wiring diagram is one-off for tibs.

i'd rather just spend the extra cash and get an OEM o2 sensor, save yourself the headache. the cost difference isn't much anyway.

your FIRST o2 controls the af, the SECOND o2 is there for emissions purposes only to see if your cat is functioning properly.

you can run with a bad second o2 sensor, a second o2 sensor thats not plugged in, a fake "dummy" seond o2 sensor (sold on ebay), or without one at all. the only thing you'll get is a CEL (except with the dummy's, that's what they're used for, lol).

if you are having a misfire or bad af ratio, it is [most likely] because of your FIRST o2 sensor. regardless of what they tell you. the second o2 sensor does not affect the af ratio.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NY Turbulance @ Feb 24 2007, 11:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>a non heated oxygen sensor? doesn't that kinda cancel out what there made to do? I would think they need to be, cause a car doesn't go into closed loop until the sensor warms up and reads oxygen, thats how a voltage signal gets sent to the pcm right? what years did they use these DTN? Im just curious</div>



The non-heated o2 sensors dont' have an internal heater, that's all. My wife's 86 Oldmobile Cutlass Cierra has a 1 wire. It's a voltage divider. They apply 12V to the line, have a resistor, then they take the reading, then the o2 sensor drops voltage. I just had to change out that sucker last time i went home cuz it was throwing a random CEL once in a while.



That 02 sensor reads .5-3V at the computer.

 

Alright thanks guys!

Last couple question on this topic then:

I'm looking at these o2 sensors on ebay, and they don't mention if they are meant to be after the cat, or before the cat. So I'm assuming it doesn't matter then?

Secondly, our stock sensor has 4 wires I assume. If I get a 2 or 3 wire sensor, where do the extra wires go? Just as important, which of the stock wires are spliced with the sensor?

Thanks again!

 

Don't go universal. It will give you issues.

Get a Bosch OEM Replacement, and wire it exactly how it is meant to be, with all 4 wires connected.

 

I'd probably get a 4-wire universal...

Getting one with the plug on it is going to cost about twice as much as getting just the universial. Unless I get lucky, so I'll have to go with that.

Last question: If it doesn't say that its for after or before cat, then can it be used for either?

As In, can I take the O2 sensor that is currently after Cat and swap it for the Header O2 sensor to see if thats really my problem or if its something else...

Like ecu, fuel filter, injectors, wires... blah!

 

No..

Find a Bosch OEM Replacement.

Otherwise, you may be sorry. Several members have had major issues with them.

Get the OEM replacement, wire it in exactly how it should be (like stock) and be done with it once and for all.

Side note: what makes you think your o2 sensor is bad in the first place? Lots of time people replace them, and then realize it was a problem with the wiring. What is your CEL code? Have you checked the voltage at the sensor, and at the ECU?

I'm pretty sure that the o2 sensors are the same, but you might want to do some research, see if the first o2 sensor and second o2 sensor have the same part number.