pontiacdog

Got new headers and the O2 sensor's wire isn't long enough to reach the switch.
I took the sensor to an electrician and he told me it's some kind of special wire and there is air passing through the wire itself and thus I can't simply solder a longer piece of wire to it.
Is this true or is he just messing with me?
How have you solved this problem? I'm guessing this happens every time you get rid of the stock exhaust manifolds.

RedLeader289

iTrader: (2)

Follow the wire that it plugs into, chances are it's clipped in a way that isn't "the shortest distance".

Meaning-if you unclip it from whatever holds it you may have a few more inches of wire to work with and can then just tie it back up in a different configuration.

Does that make sense? I had a similar issue with a Jeep I had a while back.


As for if he's messing with you, I don't know, it looks like regular wire to me.

Tuned Performance

iTrader: (92)

http://tpiparts.net/inc/sdetail/2167
If your running headers use a heated o2, the connecter are nothing more than delphi / packard weatherproof connecters and can be purchased at mouser.com , ebay ect..

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Never heard of such nonsense with sensor wiring but i could be wrong lol I've extended harnesses before with no issue. Where it plugs into the engine harness side connector, cut that and extend engine side to however long you need it. Dont cut the sensor side wiring.

Lurbie

iTrader: (3)

It depends on the sensor, but yes it is very possible. Many 02 sensors do use the wire to allow the sensor to "breathe." I don't know that it's special, but sealing it shut with solder would stop or slow the airflow enough that it could affect performance of the sensor. Like someone else said, just extend the engine harness, either by moving the retainers or splicing the engine harness side.

pontiacdog

I've already cut the sensor wire..
+ it seems the harness wire doesn't get any longer

For now I'm gonna have to try to just solder the cut sensor wire together since the car needs to be in driving condition very soon.

But I'm interested in this kind of setup because it would seem more logical than soldering wires:
Where do you exactly find an O2 sensor that would use that kind of wire? All that I've seen are single wire sensors.

89fast5oh

I read somewhere that if you are going to lengthen the wire, do it on the harness side, not the sensor side.

Lurbie

iTrader: (3)

Your best bet now is to slide some heat shrink tubing over the wire (the non-adhesive kind) then use a solderless crimp or a butt connector (again, the non-adhesive kind. Slide the heat shrink over the crimped connection and seal it that way.

sheikss

Just ordered one for my header install, thanks. Is there a particular sensor that is perferred?