This assumes the O2 sensor itself is functioning normally. Only the heater portion of the sensor is dead. Why replace the whole sensor?

How about soldering a side marker bulb (1194 I think) across the two wires that feed the heater element? Doing this on the sensor side of the connector would keep the harness intact in case the sensor is ever replaced in the future.

This should satisfy the ECU and provide a resistive load for the heater circuit. It will take longer for the sensor element to heat up, but early versions of O2 sensors had no heaters and relied soly on exhaust gasses to heat them to operating temperature.

You think this would work? Or would the ECU become impatient waiting a few minutes longer for O2 sensor output and trip a code anyway?

Any volunteers? BTW, I don't have any problem with my sensors. Just thought this might help someone who does.

 

If you want to trick the ecu a 1000ohm resister will do it. It's just going to take the sensor a little longer to warm up, delaying closed loop feedback.