Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 20:33:08 -0800
Reply-To: T Berk <tberk@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: T Berk <tberk@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: which one?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Chris C Snyder wrote:
>
> Hello everyone.
> I called our rinky-dink VW dealer today to
> get a price on the temp-2 sensor and also the
> OXY-sensor and first they said that I know
> what color the temp-2 sensor was as their is
> apparently 3 one is blue tipped, one is red
> and I now for get what the 3rd is
> ( think they said white) I have not heard of
> this before from any one on our list that has
> replaced their temp-2 sensor.
>
> Could some one please shed some light on
> this subject for me, please!!
There are at least the two that I am aware that VW uses (non Vanagon
specific info follows) There is White banded and Blue banded. one is
Celsius the other farenhite, The third is prob. in a different range of
temp for either one or the other scales. (Sorry, don't remember which
color is metric).
You can look at the one you have and ask for the correct replacement.
> Also, I had heard from some here on the
> list that the OXY sensor should cost about
> $30.00 but, when I called the dealer they want
> $198.00 for it. I called CarCrest
> (A parts place) and if I knew how many wires
> mine has I could use a universal oxygen sensor.
> I give, how many does our fun loving Vanagon have?
> Thanks,
> Chris
There are also two O2 sensors that I am aware of: the single wire (used
when located up high near the heat like in a manifold right off the
engine) & the triple wire, Heated version (located farther down stream,
heats faster so better warm up/ gas mileage/ feedback to system) the
latter is of course more expensive. In addition to the OEM unit from
Bosch the Dealer will sell you, you can get the SAME unit from your
friendly online vendor(s) of which there are many- old hands chime in here.
I use the Potterman for all things mail-order & VW related
<http://www.parts4vws.com> He is not exactly Bus orientated but lots of
the parts and know-how is cross platform, so to speak, plus he has VW
info in his blood going waaay back.
The point is you can get what you need for cheaper, same as or better
quality, support you 'local' Mom n' Pop, and benefit from the wise sage
who you gets yer parts from. (PS- There is a Ford unit [not actually
_made_ by Ford silly] you can get that requires you graft the wires on
yourself as the ends are bare. Cheaper that way).
Lastly beware of the Generic Parts Place(s), you generally have to come
armed with your own info when you approach them, _they_ don't know what
a Vanagon is. You have to know for them.
hth,
TBerk
PS- O2 sensors HATE Sulfur and it's byproducts. Avoid getting things
like WD-40 into the interior of your combustion engine , every molecule
counts. The O2's probe works off of it being made of Platinum, so also
be careful with the anti seize compound found on most OEM units out of
the box.
