2.4L O2 Sensor splicing

[Dabear]

I just had a pacesetter header installed and the O2 sensor is a lot lower than factory, and the wires are too short. I have heard that splicing them is a bad idea, but I don't see any other option. Who here has headers, and what did you do? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[[ion] C2]

i don't see physically anything else you can do but extend the wires by splicing

[DOHC_tuner]

through who did you get your pace setter headers from? And how much cause once im done building the lower end of the engine Im gonna get some pace setter headers

[Gr1m]

i wouldnt see a problem by adding the wires, except if you use a different size of wire. get the exact gauge and use it to extend it.

[Dabear]

DOHCTuner I got the headers from this site. It was only $160 shipped. And thanks for the help I guess I will just try to splice them.
http://www.performancecenter.com/product.page/Exhaust+%26+Headers/Headers/0/0/0/PCS70-1274/OLDSMOBILE/2001/Alero/2.4L

[Oldsman]

me and Nosweat both have headers and have extended the O2 sensor wire with no problems. make sure you use at least same gauge of wire and make sure you get good connection, solidering would be a good idea.

[billytheman1188]

yea you can extend it.
MAKE SURE.....
you use the same gauge wire
SOLDER IT AND SHRINK WRAP.if you dont shrink wrap, moisture COULD get into the wire and cause it to corrode.....that would suck ;-)

[Dabear]

Okay.. I tried extending the wires. I cut and soldered the same 18ga wire onto it and it worked fine for about a day. Then it started throwing codes again. It says the signal is too weak or cuts out completely. I shrink wrapped it and everything. I don't know what else to do. Oldsman is 18ga the right size? I thought it was but I might be mistaken.

[Redog]

Pretty sure it's all 18 gauge wire. The only wires that aren't are the major ones like Alternator and batter wires.

Wrap each wire up in eletrical tape, then the entire new hardness ;)

[Cliff8928]

Pretty sure it's all 18 gauge wire. The only wires that aren't are the major ones like Alternator and batter wires.

Wrap each wire up in eletrical tape, then the entire new hardness ;)

the oxygen sensor wires are actually 0.5mm^2 which is just a touch smaller than 18 AWG.

[Dabear]

Well.. I called a few places today and they said that it's not a good idea to splice into the O2 wiring because it works off of resistance and adding longer wires changes it and gives a wrong reading. So I ordered an extension from caspere electronics. I hope it works. I will update when I get it.

[Kilroy]

Well.. I called a few places today and they said that it's not a good idea to splice into the O2 wiring because it works off of resistance and adding longer wires changes it and gives a wrong reading. So I ordered an extension from caspere electronics. I hope it works. I will update when I get it.

Uhmmm, an extension is the same thing as soldering on more wire. Actually, a proper soldering job would be better than an extension, as there will be no chance of corrosion is soldered and heatshrinked properly. There IS a possibility of corrosion forming between the contacts of the extension and original O2 sensor.

You are correct that adding wire (whether it is a solder job, or an extension) will add resistance. The question is, will it add enough resistance to throw the readings off? If you don't add like 30 feet on, but only enough to reach the wiring harness, I doubt the little bit of extra wire will make any difference.

[Cliff8928]

There's no more of a chance for corrosion in the harness from Casper's than that of the original connector. All the stuff they have is original parts. Both myself and a friend get stuff there regularly for wiring supplies, they're like 2 minutes from my house.

[Oldsman]

i used 16 gauge and going on 2 years i think with no problems except it has to warm up and then the a/f gauge reads correctly and in this process it has a little miss and then after it warms up it runs fine. now i know no sweat had issues with his first header and O2's went out a lot but not here.