Extending my o2 harness

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

03-27-2011, 08:41 AM

Hangwire

4th Gear Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: NC

Posts: 1,956

Extending my o2 harness

I'm extending my o2 harness at work right now. Theres 1 black, 1 grey, 2 white wires. I marked one of the white wires with a sharpee. But when it came time to solder my extension in I realized it had rubbed off because of that slick coating thats on the wires. I assume that white is ground and a ground is a ground. Will there be issues if i mix these two up when soldering the extension on? Hope not...its already done. Lol.

03-27-2011, 10:00 AM

Hangwire

4th Gear Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: NC

Posts: 1,956

Got my answer from the cliffster. For anyone concerned....The two white wires are + and - power to the heater in the o2 sensor. The heater is seperate from the ground and non-polarised. Its "ok" to switch these up accidentally when doing an extension, but never a good idea with wiring in general to not keep up with which is which. BTW Ive always been curious. Why the hell does an o2 sensor need a heater? The exhaust gas is hot!

Last edited by Hangwire; 03-27-2011 at 10:03 AM.

03-27-2011, 10:42 AM

cliffyk

TECH SAVANT

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Saint Augustine, FL

Posts: 10,938

The exhaust gas is often not hot enough (at idle, deceleration, etc.), or if the sensor is far downstream of the exhaust ports, to keep the sensor at the 660°F it needs to "light off", or at the 950°F optimal operating temperature...

More than you ever wanted to know about NB sensors here...