Hey guys. My O2 sensor wire (purple) before the connector got too close to the exhaust manifold and it melted/burned the plastic conduit to it and fried about 2 inches of insulation off as well. However, the bare wire section did not ground to any metal or to the coolant gauge sender wire (green one). Knowing that my car has never run quite right once it warms up (rough idle, power loss), my questions are:

1.) Could this damage cause flaky O2 readings in closed-loop and possibly my driveability problems? Interestingly, after I installed Accel #23 injectors with about 43psi of fuel pressure, the car never leaned the mixture in closed-loop. No trouble codes.

2.) Can I fix it by simply splicing in another piece of 18 gauge wire using gold plated connectors and insulating it with thermo shield?

Thanks guys, I'm no electrician .

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1990 IROC 350
Mods: Too busy trying to make it run right to mod it.
Airfoil, Dynomax cat-back, Accel coil, 180 t-stat, Bald Eagle tires,
Hypertech fan switch, Accel 23# injectors, Holley AFPR, ported plenum,
Ruger P95DC, hot wife, new oil filter, thick rubber floormats, no cats.
18.0 @ 85MPH since I'm one big-a$$ MF
"It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."