extend 02 sensor

[colonel6632]

hey guys, i installed my tsudo header, and i can't quite get the 02 sensor to reach nicely. it was a tight fit, but i think it broke now, since i'm getting check engine light. codes p0134, p0135, p0130

now i've looked all these up, and they've all got to do with the front 02 sensor. so if my wire broke, can i splice it back together, or extend the wiring some how, or am i screwed?

i also read exhaust leaks can cause this, and where my header connects to the stock exhuast leaks pretty bad, fixing that tomorrow.

car seems to run fine still. doesn't run rough at all or anything

[Gr1m]

if you "broke" the o2 sensor, and by broke, you mean ripped the wires out causing a short, then you will more likely need to buy a new sensor and then splice in an extension for each wire.

[colonel6632]

well i think the wires might be broken on the car side of the harness. if so, can i just splice them back together, or do the wires run on resistance

[clutch1]

If they broke, splice them back together.

Regardless, just splice in however much extra wire you need to make it reach.

[TheThickster]

solder and heat shrink the wires. i read on the eco forums that cut and splice will cause inaccurate readings.

[mbeals]

If you are splicing the car side of the harness, solder and heat shrink, or solder and weather-pak if you can find it.

If you are splicing the sensor side, use crimps and seal the end of the crimps to the wire's insulation. I use a dab of silicone then heat-shrink over it. The sensor needs an "outside" oxygen reference, and it gets it from the small amount of air between the strands of wire and between the wire and insulation. If you solder it, the resin and solder flow into these air spaces and cut off that air supply. Most oxygen sensor wires are stainless as well, which makes getting a solid solder joint difficult. Soldering may work, but its not guarenteed and isn't considered the proper method.

Before you call BS, go look at the Bosch website and do a little google research.