i got 02 sensor laying around my room. i need to install a 2nd 02 sensor.. how can i tell if it is good with out installing it?

 

how?

 

Not easy to verify the sensor, but you can check for a bad heater. Measure resistance between the 2 same color (black?) wires. It should be 15 to 40 ohms, with no continuity to ground from either wire.

The sensing element will measure like an open-circuit until the sensor heats up to operating temperature. Even then a bad sensor doesn't really measure bad, it's just sluggish & responds slowly.

A good heating element doesn't prove the sensor is good, but if the heater is bad it won't matter...

 

i can tell you how to test it if you want, but it'll require a blow torch and a multimeter.

 

ok???

 

okay, i didnt want to post all this until you said you wanted it cuz most people say nm when i say you need a torch and its a lot to type up!...well...

you need a DC voltmeter and a propane torch
the o2 sensor produces a low voltage of about .1 of a volt when the fuel mixture is lean. and it produces a high voltage of about .9 of a volt when the fuel misture is rich.
(make sure you do this out doors in a safe place, away from anything flammable)

1. connect the voltmeter red lead to the o2 sensors signal wire, i'm pretty sure its the black wire.
2. connect the voltmeter black lead to the o2 sensors housing.
3. put the o2 sensors tip in the flame of the torch. the sensor must produce a voltage of .9 or higher. if it doesnt, its bad.
4. then, take the o2 sensors tip away from the flame. the voltage must drop from .9 to .1 or less w/in 3 secs. if it doesnt, its bad.

also, like JimBlake was saying, heated o2 sensor heater can be tested with an ohmmeter or test light connected across the heater wires. look for continuity.

i got this info out of my electronic engine controls workshop book from a class i took when i worked at advance auto parts.

 

I'm not so sure about all of that...
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sabotage7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. connect the voltmeter red lead to the o2 sensors signal wire, i'm pretty sure its the black wire.
2. connect the voltmeter black lead to the o2 sensors housing.</TD></TR></TABLE>I think a 4-wire sensor has green & white leads for signal & ground (not sure which is which). Don't use the sensor body as the signal ground, it's not as reliable.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sabotage7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">4. then, take the o2 sensors tip away from the flame. the voltage must drop from .9 to .1 or less w/in 3 secs. if it doesnt, its bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>I thought it has to be much faster than that (maybe 0.3 seconds?). In operation, it'll swing back & forth several times per second. If it swings slower than 2 or 3 times per second, the ECU throws a code for slow-response. You gotta be pretty good to swing the torch around that fast.

The old-school way is to watch it swinging when the engine's running, O2 sensor hooked up, use an analog voltmeter. It's hard to watch the swings on a DMM. Certainly if it takes 3 seconds to swing it's way too slow.

 

geezus ******* christ, i said it got it out of a book. it worked when we did it in class. we didnt use a 4 wire sensor though, but they said this would work on any sensor, you just need to know what the wires are for. the signal wire on the one we tested happened to be black.
look, do whatever the **** you want, i was just trying to help, i didnt realize id be picked apart for trying to help by providing info out of a published booklet. im thru trying to help.

 

Sorry, I was just trying to add to it. Didn't mean to pick anything apart. I guess it does look like I was being a jerk...