The trans is not in yet so exhaust and everything is still down. I see that my o2 sensor has only one wire from it. What does this mean? I will run this test next weekend. I think I will get an aftermarket sensor. What do you think?

 

A single wire is the wrong 02 sensor for that year car. It calls for a three wire. If the 02 is not connect to anything. You are going to have a problem passing California emission. it means the PO F__ up that car
Your best bet is to buy a wide band 02 sensor; you will have a better change of adjusting the A/F ratio and passing the emission test. The exhaust has to up. You can still do test with that self grounding 02. http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/lm1.php

 

Steve,
I couldn't tell from Joe's photo if the Fedralization module you noted in your photo was actually there? If it's there, please ignore the following.
I'm only aware by reputation & horror stories of fly-by-night shops that "qualified "grey- market cars by means that never stood up to real testing. ie., assembling non-functional parts
The sensor Joe has is , as you noted, an earlier single-wire (as on an''80 16v) - were there such 'modules' used for single wire adaptations? - it would be more of a trick to adapt a 3-wire w/o the timer for the sensor heater (here, I may be in gross error in assuming the 3-wire sensor's heater is actually a 'pre-heater' that shuts off as the exhaust gases bring the sensor up to operating temp - the only function of the heater being to speed up sensor operation on cold start up) - or is the 'heater' under constant power?.
Joe, any clue as to where that crusty looking female spade(non-stock) may have been connected?

 

I do not think it was attached but I was not the only one working in that area of the exhaust so I will look at this also.

Now what would be the problem with getting a new o2 sensor and putting a gauge to it. And then manually change accordingly so I can get it thru smog? I plan on putting cats from an 87 (I think) on there so that should also help with the emissions right?

 

Garth,

The bosh style electrochemical 02 sensors is a volt generator. The heaters function as a preheater, once heated it maintains that tempeture should the cats cool down. The heated 02 sensor does not work properly until it has reached an operating tempeture of 575F to 1100F. If the operating tempeture should drop, lets say your are idling in cold weather, there would be no the return signal to controller. The car will operate in an open loop map, rich mixture. The heater is on all the time once the car is started.


A lot of the grey market cars imported into the U.S back in the 1980 have had minimal required federal modifications done to them. The enforcement of the emission rules back then was less stringent then it is today, so a lot of cars just had a 02 sensor wire tape to the harness attached to nothing.


To know if a car with a 02 sensor is working correctly.
Check the injector duty cycle with a vacuum hose disconnected / false air. If the 02sensor and controller are working the 02 sensor will see more oxygen in the exhaust, lean mixture = less voltage. The controller will try to enriching the mixture by rising the injector timing, higher duty cycle. .