replaced 02 sensor - in defense of soldering

[Livolsi, Stephane]

John, I appreciate your comments, I really do.  However, just like
everything else that we do (to our cars and otherwise) there are different
trains of thought.
I think that personal experience is my best guide in life.

If I was going to do this 100% 'right', I would have forked over $280
Canadian for the OEM Bosch sensor and just plugged it in.  Even crimping
would not have been 'as good' as original.

I don't claim to be an electrical engineer, but I do dabble in the
electronic arts and am comfortable and confident that I can make a 'good'
solder joint which most people cannot (or do not take the time to do.)  I
believe that a 'good' , properly done solder joint is superior to crimping
in most cases, this being one of them.  I'm talking about using the right
temp of iron, the right solder and flux and using heat sinks to protect the
components.  How many people would just gob some solder onto a wood burning
iron and slap it onto the wires as soon as it 'sticks'?  I know, for a fact,
that my solder connections will NOT be a weak point in that circuit, because
I did it myself and I know that it is done right.  I don't always do things
that well, but I don't relish the thought of having to remove the intake
piping and air cleaner to do it again.

Rip open virtually any dead electronic unit (vcr, amp, computer)  and you
will see an awful lot of soldering, and not a heck of a lot of crimping.
These are pretty sensitive components too.

I respect your references to independent tests, but everyone has their own
agenda when they do these independent tests.

YMMV, just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions.....

Stephane


> ----------
> From: 	John Larson[SMTP:j.d.larson at verizon.net]
> Sent: 	July 18, 2003 8:01 AM
> To: 	Livolsi, Stephane; quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: 	Re: replaced 02 sensor - drivability improves - oh YEAH!
>
> You wrote  "Anyhoo.... I did the cut and paste, spliced my old connector
> onto the new
> sensor - soldered and heat shrink tubed. "....SNIP...
>
> Regardless of your choice of O2 sensors, soldering, especially on
> sensitive
> circuits like this, is flat out a bad idea.  VAG thinks so, Porsche thinks
> so, Bosch thinks so, independent magazines have tested it, and we've
> discussed it several times here on the list.  Soldering produces a
> degraded
> connection, hampers current flow, produces a weak point in the wiring, and
> often results on unwanted corrosion.  The wires come with a crimp
> connector
> (at least the better ones do) and shrink tubing.  That's how you're
> supposed
> to make the connections.  John
>
>
>