Generic O2 Sensors...

[Wayne 962]

Don just emailed me asking about generic O2 sensors:

Based on the advice/feedback/suggestions on the board, looks like I need an O2 sensor for my 87. There apparently is a generic Bosch Sensor or a Ford part that are about $50. I can get them at the local Irvine auto parts store (yes, they have a part store in Irvine) - but I'd much rather support the BBS that's going to save me $100+.

I checked out the Pelican Parts Express site - was unable to see if you had it or not.

So...any short term (i.e. this week) plans to source a generic O2 sensor?

To which I responded:

Hi Don. We've had a lot of problems with the generic ones - they have a
very high return rate!

I can special order one for you, and probably get you a competitive price on
it if you know what the Bosch part number is...

-Wayne

To which he responded:

Hi Wayne,

Based on Wil's work with the over-zealous Bosch rep, the Bosch p/n is 15725.
Interestingly, when I spoke with the counter guy at Irvine Auto Parts, he
asked me what car I was searching for, and his computer turned up a $50
generic part that was more expensive than the Bosch generic part. The Ford
p/n is 13915.

Can't imagine what causes this high return rate. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Don

To which I gave Don my own opinion on these sensors:

Honestly Don, I don't really want anything to do with generic O2 sensors. I really wouldn't recommend messing with them either, as once you splice them, they are non-returnable. So, $150 guaranteed to work is still a lot better than a $50 non-guarantee, and then the reluctant purchase of the $180 guarantee.

Honestly, I would just go and purchase the regular Porsche-specific part, and stop messing around with this. Everytime your car sputters or misses in the future, your first thought will be "is it that homade splice in the o2 sensor?" It may be, it may not be, but you'll never know. Forget about troubleshooting other parts, how will you know if the 02 sensor is operating properly.

I tried to do the same thing on my Pathfinder. Bought the generic, and wasted a lot of time getting it to work. Finally bought the real deal. This is my I'm-a-regular-joe-not-a-parts-salesman advice. Buy the real one...

-Wayne

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The bottomline is that although you may end up saving a hundred or more dollars, you'll never quite know if your car is running right on this sensor. If you have future problems, then your first though will be to check the generic O2 sensor, because it was 'hacked' together. What if the 02 sensor isn't the problem? Do you leave in the new generic one, or do you put the old one back in place ($$ lost). I've gone down this road before. Unless you have hundreds of hours to spend troubleshooting O2 problems (and there isn't a lot of info on this subject - even the Bosch rep is confusing), I would go with the standard part for your year car...

-Wayne

[Dantilla]

A friend recently replaces the O2 sensors in his Ford Expedition. Dealer needed the VIN. Why? Parts guy said because there were four different sensors used in his year alone. The aftermarket companies have a "happy medium" that usually works, but not always.