planar O2 sensors compatible with thimble-type applications?

[Brett Dikeman]

At 3:09 PM -0400 5/9/02, Dan Simoes wrote:
>It's permanent for now, yes.
>I don't have the part number, but asking for a sensor for a 2000 Jetta
>2.0 should work.  Or just ask the guy at the counter for the $20 sensor,
>guaranteed he'll know which one.

After I read this, I did some quick searching with Google and found
some interesting things.

#1, the 2000 Jetta 2.0L engines had a massive recall because of O2
sensor problems.  Free replacements.  I'm still scratching my head
trying to figure out why the dealership(s) are dumping 'em...I really
can't picture them selling the bad sensors.

#2, that sensor is the "planar" type, not the same as
originally/traditionally used(heated thimble type.)  Dan has said it
is working nicely(well, he said it improved things), and I can't find
anything that says they're different in terms of voltage vs. mixture
sensitivity etc...so they might work, but can anyone say for sure?  I
came up almost completely empty-handed trying to find -any- info on
the web about the planar sensors save one parts company page that
described all the different types of sensors(4-5 total I think.)

   If they are compatible, they're much more preferable...warming up
in 10 seconds vs 50-60, and they're not as sensitive to
contamination.  Heck, I think mine has gone out the door too...even
if it isn't totally shot, can't really go wrong for $20 and those 2
benefits...

Brett
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