O2 sensor question.

[Morgo]

Ehh.. never solder the Lambda wires;the comparing oxygen comes from the lambda wires (where the actual sensor makes the measurement of the exhaust)
"The probe

The sensor element is a ceramic cylinder plated inside and outside with porous platinum electrodes; the whole assembly is protected by a metal gauze. It operates by measuring the difference in oxygen between the exhaust gas and the external air and generates a voltage or changes its resistance depending on the difference between the two.

The sensors only work effectively when heated to approximately 316 °C (600 °F), so most newer lambda probes have heating elements encased in the ceramic that bring the ceramic tip up to temperature quickly. Older probes, without heating elements, would eventually be heated by the exhaust, but there is a time lag between when the engine is started and when the components in the exhaust system come to a thermal equilibrium. The length of time required for the exhaust gases to bring the probe to temperature depends on the temperature of the ambient air and the geometry of the exhaust system. Without a heater, the process may take several minutes. There are pollution problems that are attributed to this slow start-up process, including a similar problem with the working temperature of a catalytic converter.

The probe typically has four wires attached to it: two for the lambda output, and two for the heater power, although some automakers use the metal case as ground for the sensor element signal, resulting in three wires. Earlier non-electrically-heated sensors had one or two wires. "

[jake197000]

not as long as you dont melt the the insulation and some have a actual hole in them for referance air

[jake197000]

and if you do.......take your wire strippers and strip that little piece off.ive also seen the wires almost completely melted closed and guess what.no ck engine lite

[jake197000]

i agree its always best to buy an extension but not always possible time wise etc but extending them is do able or the parts stores around here dont stock them.if some one comes in with a melted stock one we sell them a new sensor.had a chevy pick up in the other day some dip s... didnt have it cliped in right wires all melted to heck it was blowing the o2 heater fuse but the sensor was working fine otherwise.he got a new one.im not going to mess around fixing it.

[jake197000]

cats dont melt down on there own.something caused it.sometimes they break apart a piece rattles around forms a ball and and plugs the exhaust.thats why we use a backpreasure gauge to diag.low power problems,1 or 2 psi at the most.