C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

O2 question....I hate wiring!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 11, 2009 | 11:20 PM
  #1  
O.J.'s Avatar
O.J.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Default O2 question....I hate wiring!!!

I am trying to wire in a heated O2 sensor on my 81 with Hooker sidepipes.

I am posting a photo of my O2 harness. The left side (two red wires are from the main harness. The right side (black and white) are coming from the old sensor.

My new O2 sensor is a Bosch heated 4 wire. It has a black (signal wire), 2 white wires (heater wires) and 1 gray wire (ground).

I have
-one of the white wires and the gray wire grounded to the engine block
-the second white wire I assume has to go to a switch power source to power the heater when car is on
-the black signal wire i am guessing connects to one of the original wires, which one? and what happens to the second?

Thanks for the help.......I hate wiring!!!
Reply
Old May 12, 2009 | 09:14 AM
  #2  
a1sensei's Avatar
a1sensei
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,465
Likes: 0
From: Orange Park Fl
Default

This is just a guess (the shop manual was not much help); If your wire color code is correct, you might disconnect the gray wire from ground and hook it to the other ECM wire. The original sensor had both wires going to the ECM. The sensor works by varying resistance as the O2 content changes and it may not be polarized, which would mean it does not matter which way you connect the two ECM wires. As I said, this is just a guess, you are into uncharted territory. Good luck and be sure to post your findings here!

God bless, Sensei
Reply
Old May 12, 2009 | 09:47 PM
  #3  
Richard454's Avatar
Richard454
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Default

I'm no expert on O2 sensors...

HOWEVER -I had to replace the O2's on my wife's BMW M Roadster. I learned a few things when the OBDII codes told me the heater element was bad after the Check Engine Light came on. The heating element was switched on and off by the computer-It was not a constant source like you are talking about running a switched ignition source to heat the element.

From my understanding the heated element will only help your car run cleaner/adjust fuel mixture when it's cold. My wife's car ran fine when warm and just stumbled a bit when it was cold-and noticed no change in fuel mileage while running the sensor w/ a burned out element.

I would just not bother w/ the white wires. You have no way to control the heating element.

Richard
Reply
Old May 12, 2009 | 10:17 PM
  #4  
noonie's Avatar
noonie
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Default

They gave you the wrong sensor
It should be Bosche 12028, 2 wire
and it is unheated.
O2 sensors do not all create the same voltage and can damage your computor besides not getting out of open loop and basically operste as Richard454 described.
You must use the correct one.

Should be available at NAPA, Checkers, Autozone, Pepboys etc.

Last edited by noonie; May 12, 2009 at 10:21 PM.
Reply
Old May 12, 2009 | 11:27 PM
  #5  
Z-man's Avatar
Z-man
Race Director
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Default

Originally Posted by Richard454
I would just not bother w/ the white wires. You have no way to control the heating element.

Richard
He's probably got a controller to heat the sensor.

OJ - was there a diagram with the controller? Are you using an aftermarket computer?
Reply
Old May 13, 2009 | 12:29 AM
  #6  
O.J.'s Avatar
O.J.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

from reading countless hours on this forum, I believe I have the right sensor for the following reason.

-I am using the stock computer and dist
-I am eliminating the airpump, ERG and all of the smog stuff
-I am using aftermarket Hooker headers and sidepipes which force me to move the O2 sensor further downstream in the pipe.
-moving the sensor further from the engine allows engine heat to decrease causing an improper reading by the O2 sensor, thus the reason behind the use of the heated O2

There was no diagram with the sensor, simply an explanation of which wire does what. ie both white=heater, gray=ground, black=sensor.

Sensei might have it right, can someone else confirm? I just don't want to fry a $70 sensor.

Thank all of you guys for helping me figure this out, keep the info coming!!!
Reply
Old May 13, 2009 | 04:05 AM
  #7  
noonie's Avatar
noonie
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Default

Originally Posted by O.J.
from reading countless hours on this forum, I believe I have the right sensor for the following reason.

-I am using the stock computer and dist
-I am eliminating the airpump, ERG and all of the smog stuff
-I am using aftermarket Hooker headers and sidepipes which force me to move the O2 sensor further downstream in the pipe.
-moving the sensor further from the engine allows engine heat to decrease causing an improper reading by the O2 sensor, thus the reason behind the use of the heated O2

There was no diagram with the sensor, simply an explanation of which wire does what. ie both white=heater, gray=ground, black=sensor.

Sensei might have it right, can someone else confirm? I just don't want to fry a $70 sensor.

Thank all of you guys for helping me figure this out, keep the info coming!!!
There are 3 types of heat control for sensors.
The very early type used 12v ign switched. Make sure your sensor is for pre obd2. The others are controlled by the computor in different manners.
Don't know the exact sensor you have but,
The black on the old sensor should be signal and the grey ground. Have never seen a sensor where grey was not the ground and they are polarized.


Also test the voltages to make sure they jive with the original output specs, like I said they are not all the same for output voltage.
Reply
Old May 14, 2009 | 01:23 AM
  #8  
O.J.'s Avatar
O.J.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

TTT...can anyone else chime in? I know someone has done this O2 swap, I read it on here somewhere.

Thanks
OJ
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To O2 question....I hate wiring!!!

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:14 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE