MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Maintenance, Problems & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Hawkes41 on February 19, 2020, 22:54

Title: O2 wires too short
Post by: Hawkes41 on February 19, 2020, 22:54
So I finally got around to fitting my replacement exhaust manifold and all was going fine until I went to plug in the drivers side manifold O2 sensor and the wire is too short because of the position of the sensor in the new manifold!
Is there  an easy fix or do I need to get soldering?
Can I remove it completely and just run with one?

Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Gaz mr-s on February 19, 2020, 23:04
No to both questions.  The wires have a coating on them & can't be soldered. You either have to piece a bit in by crimping to lengthen it or buy another longer-wired sensor.  Some listings tell you the length of the cable.
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Call the midlife! on February 19, 2020, 23:21
Two options, if it's only just short you can try unclipping the connector block from the head cover, that often gives you enough slack to make it work.
Or just get the post cat sensor that already has a longer lead and tidy the "spare" cable up with a jazzy cable tie. They're the same sensor, just comes with the longer lead already.
The third option would be to buy a standard one without a plug fitted and cut your old one to length then connect the two together.
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Hawkes41 on February 19, 2020, 23:27
Brill thanks for the info guys, saved me wasting my time!
I'll get a longer one ordered up asap !
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Ardent on February 19, 2020, 23:42
I believe the Denso with the longer cable is DOX 0206 from sparkplugs.co.uk
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Hawkes41 on February 20, 2020, 06:27
Quote from: Ardent on February 19, 2020, 23:42I believe the Denso with the longer cable is DOX 0206 from sparkplugs.co.uk

Thanks!
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: shnazzle on February 20, 2020, 06:49
Alternatively buy the universal one if you don't mind crimping the wires. 
They're half the price and come with a huge lead so you can cut to length.
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Call the midlife! on February 20, 2020, 13:24
Quote from: shnazzle on February 20, 2020, 06:49Alternatively buy the universal one if you don't mind crimping the wires.
They're half the price and come with a huge lead so you can cut to length.
No way? I was not aware of that...
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: shnazzle on February 20, 2020, 14:15
Quote from: Call the midlife! on February 20, 2020, 13:24
Quote from: shnazzle on February 20, 2020, 06:49Alternatively buy the universal one if you don't mind crimping the wires.
They're half the price and come with a huge lead so you can cut to length.
No way? I was not aware of that...
Haha really? 

Yeah they even come with the crimping connectors and instructions. 
All you need is a decent crimping tool and potentially a box of spare crimping connectors in case a provided one fails. My crimping tool was on the way out so I tended to go through 2 extras every time. But all in all, 30 quid saving for the sake of 10 minutes of crimping?.. Sign me up. Especially with the rate I go through them
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Call the midlife! on February 20, 2020, 16:58
Quote from: shnazzle on February 20, 2020, 14:15
Quote from: Call the midlife! on February 20, 2020, 13:24
Quote from: shnazzle on February 20, 2020, 06:49Alternatively buy the universal one if you don't mind crimping the wires.
They're half the price and come with a huge lead so you can cut to length.
No way? I was not aware of that...
Haha really?

Yeah they even come with the crimping connectors and instructions.
All you need is a decent crimping tool and potentially a box of spare crimping connectors in case a provided one fails. My crimping tool was on the way out so I tended to go through 2 extras every time. But all in all, 30 quid saving for the sake of 10 minutes of crimping?.. Sign me up. Especially with the rate I go through them
If I was in the market for some I'd probably do the same but seeing as mine are all sat in a box in the garage anyway...
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: a on February 21, 2020, 20:28
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 19, 2020, 23:04No to both questions.  The wires have a coating on them & can't be soldered. You either have to piece a bit in by crimping to lengthen it or buy another longer-wired sensor.  Some listings tell you the length of the cable.
What's the coating to stop soldering?
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: shnazzle on February 21, 2020, 20:37
Quote from: shiny on February 21, 2020, 20:28
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 19, 2020, 23:04No to both questions.  The wires have a coating on them & can't be soldered. You either have to piece a bit in by crimping to lengthen it or buy another longer-wired sensor.  Some listings tell you the length of the cable.
What's the coating to stop soldering?
It's not so much that they can't. It's more that they shouldn't. Messes with the operation. Soldering blocks the air reference.
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Gaz mr-s on February 21, 2020, 22:05
Quote from: shnazzle on February 21, 2020, 20:37
Quote from: shiny on February 21, 2020, 20:28
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 19, 2020, 23:04No to both questions.  The wires have a coating on them & can't be soldered. You either have to piece a bit in by crimping to lengthen it or buy another longer-wired sensor.  Some listings tell you the length of the cable.
What's the coating to stop soldering?
It's not so much that they can't. It's more that they shouldn't. Messes with the operation. Soldering blocks the air reference.

No, I tried before I found out (from you) that it shouldn't.  It has a very shiny appearance like chrome.
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: a on February 22, 2020, 07:56
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 21, 2020, 22:05
Quote from: shnazzle on February 21, 2020, 20:37
Quote from: shiny on February 21, 2020, 20:28
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 19, 2020, 23:04No to both questions.  The wires have a coating on them & can't be soldered. You either have to piece a bit in by crimping to lengthen it or buy another longer-wired sensor.  Some listings tell you the length of the cable.
What's the coating to stop soldering?
It's not so much that they can't. It's more that they shouldn't. Messes with the operation. Soldering blocks the air reference.

No, I tried before I found out (from you) that it shouldn't.  It has a very shiny appearance like chrome.

I get it shiny is the problem?
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Gaz mr-s on February 22, 2020, 13:38
Quote from: shiny on February 22, 2020, 07:56I get it shiny is the problem?

The solder doesn't take to it. And the coating is hard. The fact that you can buy a universal sensor that comes with crimps means it's their recommended method.
Title: Re: O2 wires too short
Post by: Call the midlife! on February 22, 2020, 13:41
Quote from: shiny on February 22, 2020, 07:56
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 21, 2020, 22:05
Quote from: shnazzle on February 21, 2020, 20:37
Quote from: shiny on February 21, 2020, 20:28
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on February 19, 2020, 23:04No to both questions.  The wires have a coating on them & can't be soldered. You either have to piece a bit in by crimping to lengthen it or buy another longer-wired sensor.  Some listings tell you the length of the cable.
What's the coating to stop soldering?
It's not so much that they can't. It's more that they shouldn't. Messes with the operation. Soldering blocks the air reference.

No, I tried before I found out (from you) that it shouldn't.  It has a very shiny appearance like chrome.

I get it shiny is the problem?
You're going to fit in real well around here...