Seeing a big range of prices for O2 sensors at my local Autozone/Murray's auto shop. Are the cheap ones mush different than the expensive ones? Is it worth the extra money?


-Mike

Mike,

I recently did a bunch of research on O2 sensors trying to pick one to save money for my 95 940 with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).

One thing I did find out is that, for 3-wire sensors, Bosch only makes two universal sensors.

There is the 0 258 986 502 - Three wire sensor with 12 watt heater and grounded case.

And there is the 0 258 986 504 - Three wire sensor with 18 watt heater and grounded case.

I do not know if the heater is the only difference.

I looked up all of the sensor numbers I found in the FAQs, and I cross referenced them to the universal replacement numbers. They all crossed to a 12 watt universal. My OEM number crossed to an 18 watt heater.

Because I have been chasing a check engine light for a long time, I opted to just go ahead and spend the extra for the OEM number just to avoid throwing another unknown into the mix. There was a different OEM number for cars with EGR vs without EGR, though with or without EGR still had an 18 watt heater. There was a different plug on the one with EGR vs the one without EGR. It seemed that the 12 watt heater was more common on a turbocharged car.

If you want to check this stuff out for yourself, there are links to the Bosch catalogs in the FAQs, and I think you can find another link in the Bosch catalog for some more info.

Charley

Hey Mike,




For the Bosch FI cars, the sensors are functionally the same if they are three wire. Older cars used unheated single wire sensors and newer cars use four wire sensors. The Regina sensor is electrically different and can't be substituted with a universal model. For brands, I suggest Bosch or Denso. The Walker brand sensors for the Bosch cars seem to have a short life. What you can get that is often cheaper than a universal model is the Bosch 13913 or its equivalent in a Denso 2343001. These are used in many older Ford vehicles. The Bosch 13913 is for a '86 Taurus w/ V6. The sensors use three wires in these cars. Two are for the heater and one for the signal. The polarity of the heater wires is not important. What I did to my car was solder in a Ford pigtail so that the Ford sensor plugs in unmodified. This is made by Standard, and it works fine (although their O2 sensors are lousy), and the part no. is S677.

If you want to get one of these sensors, I suggest Rock Auto. They have the Denso 2343001 for $29.79. The wire connector is about 12 bucks.

You can get a 5% discount if you use this code: 21022311751071


If you choose to fore go the connector, use good crimp connectors and heat shrink tubing rather than solder. The sensors draw in a tiny amount of air through the insulation, and solder/flux can impair proper operation. If you get the connector, there's no problem soldering it in.

Regards, Jon 'Uncle Olaf'

Uncle Olaf- You are a wealth of information. Must come from years of experience. Thanks for it.

-Mike

You can buy the universal type. They are a little cheaper. That means they won't plug directly into the socket on your car now. You would have to strip both ends and splice them together. I prefer to get the one that fits my car. I believe it was arouond $80.00. But all I have to do is install it in the exhaust system, plug it in and go. If you use the universal, you will need to know how many wires are on your old on. I think mine has three. I got the bosch.

Keep in mind that the sensors for regina cars are different..See the FAQs , there is a comprehensive list of O2 sensors for the different cars.