O2 Spacer

[ah_alex_]

Ive done a search for this topic and didnt quite find the specific answers i was looking for so here goes: i have a 97 GT with a knock off header and a universal high flow cat and i have the PO420 code... my leggy just rolled over 187xxx km and so my question to all of you is... Should i replace both o2 sensors and put o2 spacers on both of them or should i just do the resistor trick in one or both old o2 sensors? If i should just do the resistor trick... what size resistor is best and do i need a special kind of resistor (ie: high heat)?
As always ANY input is greatly appreciated!
Thanks

[Reason]

You can go the cheap way and spend little money you can. Or you can buy two new sensors and the o2 sensor. The good thing about this is you will have 2 new o2 sensors. That's the path I would travel.

[ah_alex_]

Or you can buy two new sensors and the o2 sensor. The good thing about this is you will have 2 new o2 sensors. That's the path I would travel.
Thats what i wanted to do for the same reason but i figured i would ask if there is another reliable but cheaper way of doing the same thing. Another question i have is the o2 spacer from rallitek:
http://yhst-49187380673845.stores.yahoo ... 2sesp.html (http://yhst-49187380673845.stores.yahoo.net/rao2sesp.html)
says its for a wrx/sti and for the rear o2 sensor but im assuming it will fit on the front and rear o2 sensors of a legacy? jw if anyone can confirm or deny this.

Im still kinda leaning towards the resistor way of doing things but im still wondering how reliable it will be compared to new sensors and spacers because i have heard the spacers might not work and i dont want to buy new sensors and spacers and have them not work and foul new sensors.

I apologize for the long posts but i wanted to make sure i got all my info across. Thanks

[ah_alex_]

one more quick thing i hope someone can answer is: can i just put a few washers instead of the $30 spacer? just wondering if it would be the same because im from canada eh and it might take a bit of coin to ship up here

[DOOK]

a few washers would probably not get you out far enough and still allow the sensor to thread in... you could try it, but the thing with the spacer is that it threads into the bung hole (HAHAHAHAHA) and then has threads in itself to allow the sensor to thread in.

[ah_alex_]

Thats what i thought but wanted to make sure


bung hole (HAHAHAHAHA)

I laugh everytime i say it too lol

[Huffer]

Before you drop $25 at Rallitek, just go to the autoparts store and grab two "spark plug antifoulers" that have the same internal diameter as your O2 sensor, and drill out the holes on the bottom of the anti-foulers.

Screw them together, screw that into the O2 sensor bung, hey presto, DIY spacer.

[ah_alex_]

wow thanks... i love DIY stuff, now i have something to do today!
I'll post how the install goes because my new o2 sensors just came in today.
Should i just unplug the battery to reset the ECU or should i take it to a shop and have the code scanned and cleared?

[DOOK]

try to reset yourself, if that doesn't work, go another route.

[ah_alex_]

I cant believe i live in a town where no one carries "spark plug anti foulers" and half the people i talked to at auto parts stores didnt even know what i was talking about. looks like im dropping $30 at rallitek!

[Kris]

I cant believe i live in a town where no one carries "spark plug anti foulers" and half the people i talked to at auto parts stores didnt even know what i was talking about. looks like im dropping $30 at rallitek!

:lol: same here in Vancouver called every lordco, napa, canadian tire they dont know what it is... went to their stores and they really dont have it.
Im already closed to 5000km now and still dont have any check engine light though.

[ah_alex_]

Im already closed to 5000km now and still dont have any check engine light though.

Mine was fine for the first 8,000 km then it started to come on intermittently then it was on all winter and still on... i hope for your sake it never comes on although i do like the thought that its a PO420 code LOL (any midnight tokers now what im talking about!)

[ah_alex_]

quick update: i ordered the spacers from rallitek and purchased two new O2 sensors... should be good to go in a couple weeks

[Reason]

quick update: i ordered the spacers from rallitek and purchased two new O2 sensors... should be good to go in a couple weeks

Nice, there you go. Let us know how it turns out.

[jey]

Why are you putting a spacer on the front O2 sensor? You should only put on in the rear sensor, to pull it out of the air stream and fool the ECU into thinking there is enough difference between the front/rear O2 sensor readings and that the cat converter is working properly.

If you put a spacer on the front I'm not sure that's going to accomplish anything for your cat efficiency code, and it may even cause your car to run like crap since it uses the front O2 sensor in closed-loop mode to determine fuel trim??