Now, everyone warns that these sensors should not be put into an exhaust stream until they are heated up. Is this the case, or is it really, that they shouldnt be used as a SENSOR until heated up? Since these sensors are on Honda's, I highly doubt that anyone with a vtech honda, has to let their car sit for 30-45 seconds before they turn it on, so that the sensor can heat up. Am I just crazy?? Can someone explain what the story is?

 

They must not be in the exhaust stream if not powered up.

The carbon flakes will stick to the inner guts, and quickly kill the sensor.

I always give it 30 secs before firing the engine up, and have well over 10K miles on it now.

It would seem that there is a difference in heater design between the two. I'd wager the Honda ecu ignores the sensor until it is warm. How fast the Honda controls are for the heater I don't know. Honda doesn't run the sensor cold, under any circumstances other then in warm-up.

To save a 600+ dollars, seems like a little inconvience is to be expected.