Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 13:15:47 -0800
Reply-To: Nathaniel Merrill <nmerrill@PARAMETRIX.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Nathaniel Merrill <nmerrill@PARAMETRIX.COM>
Subject: Re: Oxygen sensor info.(Read this)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Darrell,
Not through the top by the wires but through the wires. That is how I understand it. There does not look like there is a "space" between the core and insulation as such. They must just vent through the wire -the spaces between the strands. Obviously, there is air there and not a vacuum but.... As I said, I am skeptical. What confuses me is this. I just purchased a sensor for my Subaru, a Bosch which comes with a crimp connector and some shrink wrap. This is supposed to still breath through the wire (its a single wire) right? even after being shrink wrapped? I don't get the impression that these "suck" much air, probably just a tiny amount really. I also doubt that the shrink wrap is totally air tight (unless you tried to seal it with grease or silicone). So maybe it is not all that unlikely that it would get the small amount of air it needs to work and that is why most people have not had problems with the cut and solder thing. I did though, probably because of the all day and night drives in total rain here in the PNW plus a faulty shrink wrap job which let in some moisture. So maybe there is not a problem with buying the 13913 and swapping connectors as long we maintain the flow of air between the "old" and new wire ends - or around the shrink wrap. I guess time will tell. I think I will seal the lower end of the protective rubber cover which covers the wires from the connector to the sensor. Simply shrink wrap the connections (which I will crimp instead of solder) and see how that works. That way water would need to get in the top by the connector AND get past the shrink wrap. Call me paranoid.
Nat
>>> "Darrell Boehler" <midwesty@midwest.net> 02/02 11:30 AM >>>
-------------------------
Hi Nat,
Great work. I'm not positive I understand what you mean by "vents
between the core and the casing". That to me means there is some space
between the insulation and the copper wire. I don't notice much space there
for breathing but would not want to contradict someone from farmington.
Didn't know bosch had a plant or research and development there, farmington
is near peoria. If the o2 sensor vents on the top end near the wiring,
water kicked up by the left rear tire will run down the wires into the
sensor. It would appear to me the sensor should have been mounted such that
the wire entry end would be lower than the rest of the sensor to avoid
gravity pulling the water down the wire into the sensor. This is not the
case on our vans, the wiring end is highest.
Also I have a stock bosch vw vanagon o2 sensor on my 87 van. The wires
are all crimped nice and tightly insulation and all.
Darrell
-----Original Message-----
From: Nathaniel Merrill <nmerrill@PARAMETRIX.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, February 02, 1999 12:52 PM
Subject: Oxygen sensor info.(Read this)
>This is an update on my info quest regarding my shorted oxygen sensor:
>After my comment that I was going to seal my oxygen sensor, I received
several notes that this should not be done because the sensors require
outside air to compare to the exhaust etc.etc. After careful examination I
determined that there was not any vents on the Bosch sensor I had. After
several calls, I finally got to a person at the Bosch R&D department who
informed me that ALL of the Bosch sensors VENT THROUGH THE WIRES. That is-
between the core and the casing is air space which is the vent. I still an
skeptical about this due to the sealed nature of most connectors I have
seen, But that s what he said. It does not take much to realize that
soldering and shrink wrapping the sensor wires would likely foul this
system up. ( as any one who has bought the 13913 or 0 258 003 913 ford
sensor and cut off the plug has done). Apparently, (some one who knows
about this correct me) the universal sensors are shipped with a special
connector- not soldered on and shrink wrapped. So I conclude that my
sensor, which had one less-than-perfect shrink wrap out of three must have
sucked water and or moisture into the wire here, which eventually made it to
the sensor and shorted it. Make what you will of this info - As I said it
came from the Bosch R&D department, Farmington ILL.(?)
>Also, while talking to someone at the tech info center for Bosch I was told
that the part number for the original VW sensor I had was a stand alone for
a Volvo....no mention of a VW in there. Anyone ever seen one like this in a
Volvo?
>Here is to $170 Oxy sensors.
>
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