How to Wire a 4-Wire Universal Oxygen Sensor
by Martin Adamovic
Automotive engines are composed of a complex set of systems that are monitored by several types of sensors. The four-wire universal oxygen sensor is one of the sensors that monitors fuel consumption. This sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen that is present in the oxygen as it exits the vehicle, which is indicative of the fuel mixture. The four-wire universal oxygen sensor must be changed approximately every 60,000 miles and requires a specific wiring process.
Step 1
Install the four-wire universal oxygen sensor. Cut the original wire connector exposing the copper ends of the wires.
Step 2
Splice the new wires. Take the wires on the new sensor with the wires that were previously connected to the connector. These are the same wires that were removed from the connector in step 1.
Step 3
Identify the different wires. One of the wires on the sensor is the ground wire, the other wire is the signal wire, and the remaining two wires are the heater circuit wires. All of these wires are coded with a color. Depending on the brand of the sensor the colors will vary.
Identify your brand's color coding by referring to the chart in the "Oxygen Sensor Replacement" section of the following web site: http://www.aa1car.com/library/o2sensor.htm
References
Things You'll Need
- Flash Light
- Wire Cutters
- Wire Connectors
Warnings
- The color coding on the new four-wire sensor will most likely not match the color coding on the original sensor so make sure to check the instructions that come with the new sensor for accurate color coding information.
Writer Bio
Writing in both Spanish and English, Martin Adamovic has been covering psychology, marketing, lifestyle and sports since 2009. She has served as a sports journalist for a variety of mobile sports applications in Europe, including General Mobile and Bravo Game Studios. Adamovic holds a B.A. in Spanish and business from the University of Colorado and is currently studying law.
