Homemade O2 Sensors

[abatzis2 at hotmail.com (Michael Abatzis)]

also, for whatever reason, those wires are difficult to solder (for me 
anyway). don't know if they're made of something special or whatever, but i 
find crimping to be much easier for the o2 sensor in particular.



-Michael Abatzis
New Orleans!
1988 Scirocco 2L 16v RIP
1987 Scirocco 2L 16v...




>From: "Allyn" <amalventano@sc.rr.com>
>To: "Ron Pieper" <rapieper@yahoo.com>, "James S. 
>Danda"<jdanda@sunflower.com>,        <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>Subject: Re: Homemade O2 Sensors
>Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 11:54:08 -0500
>
> > (this opens the solder vs. crimp debate).
>
>here, i'll attempt a quick end to the crimp vs. solder debate.
>
>crimping or soldering work ALMOST equally well. to understand why you must
>see how the o2 sensor interface works. the o2 sensor outputs a small 
>voltage
>(~0.5v), and due to the method by which that voltage is made, it is very
>sensitive to loading. the slightest load will cause the voltage to drop
>below what it is supposed to be. for this reason, the thing that reads this
>sensor (ecu) uses a circuit with a very high impedance input (similar to a
>digital voltmeter - which is also the reason that analog meters don't work
>well reading o2 sensors - as they load the output down too much).
>
>ok, so we basically have something making voltage that is very sensitive to
>loading, and its measured with a circuit designed to put near-0 load on the
>device being read.
>
>ok, now what all of this tech stuff does for us is show that electrically,
>it just doesnt matter if you solder or crimp this connection. reason being
>that since the sensor is read using very high impedance, small differences
>in resistance of the wiring will have no impact on the voltage reaching the
>ecu. this is because there is ~0 current running through the o2 sensor
>wires, so changes in resistance of those wires have no impact on the 
>voltage
>reaching the other end (cant have voltage drop across the line when there 
>is
>no current running through it).
>
>ok, so we (thoroughly) covered the electrical. what remains is the
>mechanical. the reason some prefer crimping over solder is because solder
>joints usually fail. now dont get me wrong, solder IS the superior
>connection method, but not when it is done improperly. lets face it, your
>average joe cant pull off nuclear grade solder joints. if you dont properly
>solder this connection, the solder wicks up the wire as its being soldered,
>causing it to be rigid up to the point where the wicking ended. not knowing
>this, the wire is not properly reinforced at the end of the wick, and this
>junction is allowed to take the bending force of the wire. keep this up a
>few times and the wire breaks at that junction.
>
>...so its not that solder is bad, its that people shouldnt do it unless 
>they
>are competent enough to do it correctly.
>
>Al
>
>Allyn Malventano, ETC(SS), USN
>87 Rieger Scirocco GTO 2.0 16v (daily driver, 190k, rocco #6)
>86 Kamei Twin 16V Turbo Scirocco GTX (30% complete, rocco #7)
>86.5 Occo 16v Trailer (rocco #8)
>90 Passat GL 16V (the wifes new daily, 200k)
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ron Pieper" <rapieper@yahoo.com>
>To: "James S. Danda" <jdanda@sunflower.com>; <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 10:37 AM
>Subject: Re: Homemade O2 Sensors
>
>
> > Yes, I installed the same Bosch sender in a Cabby some time ago...worked
>wonderfully.  Did you
> >
> > Should be OK...
> >
> > Ron
> >
> > --- "James S. Danda" <jdanda@sunflower.com> wrote:
> > > Has anyone had luck wiring up a Universal O2 sensor (ie Bosch 13913) 
>to
>a 16v CIS-E car?
> > >
> > > I have one wired and installed, but I'm having problems getting my car
>to run right. It misses
> > > under load. In other words when accelerating it accelerates 
>erratically.
>Eventually I reach
> > > steady speed and it runs great, but while accelerating it has power in
>bursts. Its like a switch
> > > is randomly thrown which gives small burst of full power. Otherwise
>power is at 75%(guess). Oh,
> > > and it only acts like this AFTER the engine has completely warmed up.
> > >
> > > I've done the following in trouble shooting: new filters(air, fuel), 
>new
>injector seals, new
> > > plugs and wires, checked for vacuum leaks, and built a new o2 sensor.
> > >
> > > I'm beginning to think its the o2 sensor, but like an idiot I threw 
>the
>old one away so I can't
> > > test it. It ran ok before changing my downpipe. While installing the
>downpipe I figured I'd
> > > replace the o2 sensor. I really don't want to spend $125 on an OEM
>sensor, but if that gets the
> > > car running right I'll start saving.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > jim
> > > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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