ClassJ

I am changing the oxygen sensor on my 85.5 944. I ordered a universal one from Zims but it has a short lead and a plug on it. I would have to cut the plug and splice it to my old harness.

Is this a correct sensor for the car or something they come up with?

I thought the bosch universal sensors had no plug and came with crimp connectors or something special to use.

Does anyone know which universal one is the right one, or if I should just bite the bullet and get the OE type one ??

Thanks for any help given

josephsc

I've been using the universal (the three-prong heated kind) and it works just fine for me....

unsigned

I installed a universal and it seems to be fine. No plug, special Bosch splicer kit. Pretty cool.

iloveporsches

Universal will save you a lot of money, and work just as well.

Charlotte944

Single wire Universals are OK, but some states (Like California) require a 3-wire heated sensor. The reasoning behind this requirement is a heated sensor gets the DME into closed loop control earlier in the warm up cycle, which reduces emissions and saves fuel.

If you want a heated 3-wire sensor, get a Bosch 13913. It is made for a Ford and runs about $40.00 at places like Pep Boys and NAPA. Just cut off the connector and use crimp style butt splices. The black wire is the sensor lead and the white wires are the heater leads.

testarossa_td

Search and you shall receive....

Here is my two cents
Click link
O2 Sensor info

Techno Duck

Get the universal type, its about half the cost of the OE. All you need to do is splice the wireharness, which a monkey could do if they can read the directions.

You would need universal kit # 15726 from Bosch.

Toolmaster

Just do yourself a favor and make sure the wires aren't touching the hot exhaust.... Been there.

HTH!

Jfrahm

When did they add the heater? The early ones are single wire, and the one you got from Zims should be just fine if your OEM sensor is also single wire. The later ones are three wire (two wires for the heater.) I'm using a three wire Bosch sensor for a Ford Taurus in my 90 S2, works great.

If you had a turbo and were thinking about upgrades later, it might be smart to get a wide/narrow sensor so you could use a WBO2 later on. They can be had for $50 or so (VW application.) I believe the narrow output is compatible and the wide output can just wait until you get a WBO2 and mods.

-Joel.

porschefig

As far as I know they didn't start using the 3 wire O2 sensors any certain year on the 944. My car for instance is a 1983 model and has the 3 wire sensor. I guess this means it's a california car as Charlotte944 said. (although my records show it was originally owned in Hawaii, I guess the first owner had to order a car from California to Hawaii?...Or maybe Hawaii has the same emissions standards?)

mroberts

Any more info on where to find these ? Seems like a good idea, and a cheap step to a WB - just read it with a voltmeter.

ClassJ

Heres an update:

I called Bosch tech line today as they list a diffent number for a universal unit.

They stated that UNDER NO CIRCUMATANCES should I use any of the "universal" ford sensors. This includes #'s 15725, 15726, 13913 and its longer wired counterpart.

They claim that the American Ford type sensors (which is what the above numbers are), have different heating element specs and calibration and are different from the European style oxygen sensors.

They have a european sensor with the universal connector kit for the Porsches, Audis, etc.
Bosch #15735. This is the one with the correct calibration and element.

Other than the one with the factory harness, they claim that this is the only sensor that is correct.

The Ford ones may work, but they are not 100% correct.

I ordered the #15735 sensor from Worldpac, they were the cheapest at 80 bucks.

I am returning the Bosch #13913 to Zims.

I tell you, 944 parts are getting more complicated every day. It is great that universal sensors are out there, but wierd that even though bosch specifies one for the car, there are out 4 or five different ones being sold by paragon, zims and others. And while they may work, bosch is claiming that they are all wrong.

Thanks for the help.

testarossa_td

Maybe that is why I run a little rich, or maybe it is the Autothority MAF...if I had $80 dollars to blow for fun, I would swap them out and tell you. '86 951
But I would be interested to see.-Narrowbandedly speaking

josephsc

Just to add to the mix, if you do a search on past posts, we've had a Bosch engineer chime in his opinions before: see https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/42959-o2-sensor-cost-and-replacement.html and other past threads.

ClassJ

I figured the last thing I want is to be chasing a problem because of having the wrong sensor.

I probably would have just installed the Zims one but it is kinda hard to do that when Bosch is telling you not to. I know alot of people use them but ifr Bosch doesent know, who does?

When the new one comes tommorow I will see if the numbers on the new senser match the ones on the universal ford one from Zims.