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Ebay O2 sensor?

S

Slickone

Diamond Member
Has anyone used a cheap oxygen sensor from ebay? How did it do? There are some for $17 shipped for my 2004 Civic.

If they're no good, my next choice was a Denso for $27 + shipping at Rock Auto, which I think comes with the OE size connector. From what I've read, the OEMs are made by Denso or NGK.
 
Thanks and no offense but many people say that about every car part, without any proof or experience with non-OEM (not saying it applies to you or that you're wrong). I was really just looking for an answer to my question.
 
'OEM' doesn't mean it comes in a box with 'Honda' printed on it. I believe he's just saying a small number of manufacturers make pretty much all the oxygen sensors out there. You can buy an identical part, perhaps sans the plastic connector, from the 'OEM supplier' for a fraction of the cost. $27 is not expensive.

If there are no markings on the eBay sensor (e.g. Bosch, Denso), I would not touch it.
 
What exdeath and Phuc said.

If you are trying to save $10, get the more expensive O2 sensor. A bad O2 sensor will cost you a lot more than $10 in poor fuel economy and wasted time.

Edit: of all the parts I get from eBay or other very inexpensive sources I never screw around with EFI or ignition components. They impact the drive-ability and fuel economy of the car so strongly that it's just not worth dicking around to save a trivial amount of money.
 
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I'd do the name brand but generic version. I wouldn't spend the $100 on an OEM Bosch with the plug when I can just cut the plug off the old one and solder it on the new one.
 
Probably doesn't matter on a factory narrowband but on my wideband it has a uniquely calibrated resistor that takes into account the built in resistance of the cable. Cutting it is a DO NOT DO THIS item. But again, a expensive precision wideband sensor vs a factory emissions control sensors are two diff things.
 
My downstream O2 sensor is the same way, it's a delicate situation just installing or removing it. But for someone looking at a $17 sensor I figured that this was not the case 😉
 
exdeath said:
Probably doesn't matter on a factory narrowband but on my wideband it has a uniquely calibrated resistor that takes into account the built in resistance of the cable. Cutting it is a DO NOT DO THIS item. But again, a expensive precision wideband sensor vs a factory emissions control sensors are two diff things.
Click to expand...

The documentation for the narrow band sensors still says not to solder for the same reason. But I do it anyway. Eff their little BS connectors...my soldering is going to be closer to an intact, uncut piece of wire than that is.
 
Agree with the other posters, nay on the Ebay O2 sensor. Knowing it determines your fuel efficiency and engine performance, what's the point of skimping to save $40?

I've had first hand experience with Ebay parts. An short RAM air intake bought on Ebay. Honestly it was a piece of junk. When you turned the screw on the hose clamp right, it loosened. When you turned the screw left, it tightened. Lol.
 
OK, forget the $17 sensor.
exdeath said:
Probably doesn't matter on a factory narrowband but on my wideband it has a uniquely calibrated resistor that takes into account the built in resistance of the cable. Cutting it is a DO NOT DO THIS item. But again, a expensive precision wideband sensor vs a factory emissions control sensors are two diff things.
Click to expand...
How did you know about the resistor? Just saw it?

I've been told mine is a wideband. But if I search Rock Auto, for example, with my exact car in the search, shouldn't it only give me parts that will work for it? As mentioned, they have a Denso for $27. Would a narrow band be that cheap?
"But again, a expensive precision wideband sensor vs a factory emissions control sensors are two diff things."
Not sure what you're saying.
 
By 'factory emissions control,' he's saying 'narrow band.' Some people don't like the latter term; it's kind of a made-up after-the-fact thing that is used to differentiate between 'normal' and wideband sensors.

I would highly doubt you have a wideband sensor. A $27 replacement is most certainly not.

Some German cars around that year use them. Don't think any Japanese cars do, but I could be wrong.
 
It looks like they used wideband on one of their engines. From what I can tell, the Si had a wideband upstream sensor, EX/DX/whatever had standard ones.

You will not see a wideband for under a hundred bucks.

And there are only two sensors. Upstream (b1s1) and downstream (b1s2).

edit: nevermind, it looks they all used a wideband upstream?

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-15473-Oxygen-Sensor-Fitment/dp/B000VAZFOA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Those people are all mentioning EX models and stuff. Which engine do you have?
 
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Crappy rockauto website. I was in a hurry the other day when I saw the $27 Denso, after I had entered my car. But even though I had entered my exact model/engine, it still shows parts for every Civic. I was looking at one for an LX or DX. Mine is an EX with the D17A2 engine (the only model with that engine...LX/DX are different), and looks like the cheapest upstream Denso there is $148. They have a APWI brand upstream for $45.

Oreilly has a Bosch upstream for $78.

They're $200-$250 at Autozone and $200-$350 at Advance!
 
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Gonna be the wrong part. No way O'Reilly has a wideband for that cheap.

I still don't know how you would tell what has a wideband and what doesn't, since the replacement widebands are still listed as 4pin sensors. It would seem all the 04 Civics used them, though.
 
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/BOS0/13377/02205.oap
I guess it's a mistake. It says it's upstream, and shows up for my vehicle, but when I search for that part # (13377), Autozone says it's a narrowband.http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Bosch-Oxygen-Sensor/_/N-5yc1s?itemIdentifier=596492

Thing is, I removed my sensor while I was already underneath changing the oil.
Mine does not look like this:
http://www.boschautoparts.com/OxygenSensors/Pages/WidebandOxygenSensors.aspx
It looks like this:
http://industrial.boschautoparts.com/oxygensensors/Pages/RichBurn.aspx
So it seems to be a narrow band.

See #4:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2007/02/FAST/

So is that always the way to tell them apart?
 
Slickone said:
If mine looks like that narrow band at Bosch's website, is it definitely narrow band?
Click to expand...

Get your vin and use it through a supplier that will verify part compatibility with vins. That's the best way to be sure. Us folks on the internet can speculate all we want and still be wrong.
 
Advance and Autozone can suck with VIN's. They're at the mercy of a sketchy system and the info provided by aftermarket suppliers. Best thing is to call the dealer with VIN on hand, get their P/N, and cross-reference.

FWIW narrowband O2's have many forms, but I think widebands are pretty similar. I've never seen a wideband that looked like the narrowband example you pictured. But I'm no authority on the matter.
 
Some more info which helps but also causes me more confusion.

I had a Honda dealer look it up by my VIN and said the part # is 36531-PLR-003 ($341). Autozone shows it matches up to Bosch 15473, and Rockauto shows that Bosch # is wideband. Also a google search for "36531-PLR-003 wideband" seems seems to confirm.

I've since taken the sensor out again and noted the #'s and took a photo (below). Mine looks identical to a narrow band.
The #'s printed on it are DU2 | Densor | 192400-1170 | 04F14

Denso (densoautoparts.com) shows an O2 sensor part # 234-4220 as an OE fit for my engine, but looking up that part on Advanced's site shows it's downstream. Denso also shows an air/fuel ratio sensor part # 234-9017, and Advanced shows it's upstream.
So why is that one called an air/fuel ratio sensor?

Why does Denso show the part # is 234-9017 and not 192400-1170? I bought my car 3/07 with 23K miles so I assume it's likely the original part. Which part showed I be searching for?

This seems to be the cheapest price for the 234-9017:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00122EENE

This person says Denso 234-9005 works.?
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DEXWIZ8T8R34

O2sensor.jpg
 
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