Re: Are universal oxygen sensors just as good?

[Andrei Talalaevskii <andrei@felix.physics.sunysb.edu>]

Huw Powell wrote:
> 
> >      I have a 1989 100Q (CA emissions).  I need to replace the oxygen
> >      sensor.  (Or so the flashing light tells me).  Has anyone had
> >      success/failure with a universal OXS.
> 
> The flashing light is telling you to test it, all it does is count
> miles.  The OXS might be fine (it's working fine if it's output voltage
> while connected fluctuates steadily in the several hundred mV range.
> "Generic" sensors are fine, so long as they fit the socket (which is
> standard, right, anyway) and have the right number of wires.
> 
What's written below applies only to not heated OXS. I do not know
what is universal heated sensor.

The difference between the "original" sensor and 
"universal" one is only in the wire length. "universal" comes
with a kit that includes two connectors and shrink tubing.
You simply cut the wire out of an old sensor and attach a new one
to an old wire buy stripping wires and connecting them. 
The "original" comes already comes with the wire
of length that fit specific vehicle model. That's the only difference.
Otherwise "Generic" and "Original" come in Bosch box and are absolutely
identical.

HTH,

Andrei