help finding the right O2 sensor

[dabuddha]

1997 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3L 201Cl V6 Fl VIN:R

I need to replace the upstream oxygen sensor and when I put it in advanceautoparts's website, it comes back with 4-5 different ones. I'm not quite sure which one I'm wanting (plus I can't tell what the difference is between them). Any help would be appreciated

These are the ones that say are an exact fit for my van:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...53;-bosch_19370039-p?searchTerm=oxygen+sensor

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...53;-bosch_19370040-p?searchTerm=oxygen+sensor

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...sor-bosch_18470508-p?searchTerm=oxygen+sensor

plus some others.

TIA!

EDIT (09/30):

So I went under the van yesterday, is this the O2 sensor?

 

[Zivic]

go to oxygensensors.com

You will need to know a few more specs on the van..
trim level
engine
and possibly if it has "LLE"

 

[JCH13]

Rockauto.com will have a list of compatible O2 sensors. You will also need the trim/engine/etc for proper selection.

 

[dabuddha]

ooh forgot to add that, edited the OP

 

[dabuddha]

go to oxygensensors.com

You will need to know a few more specs on the van..
trim level
engine
and possibly if it has "LLE"

From there:

1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Standard V6 cyl (3.3 L,0) VIN...

I'm assuming without LLE. I'm not sure what LLE is.

 

[phucheneh]

Buy the one with the connector that looks like the connector your vehicle has. Your first two links are universal sensors, which will work, you just have to cut the connector off the old one and reuse it.

With few exceptions, O2's are all the same. There's a high likelihood the generic autozone sensor and the dealer sensor were made in the same factory.

 

[SkullWalker]

Can't go wrong with a Bosch oxy sensor.

Just make sure the threads are the same, yep it is unusual, but I have seen some universal oxy sensors with very strange thread sizes.

 

[dabuddha]

so I went under my van yesterday, is this the sensor?

 

[Zivic]

so I went under my van yesterday, is this the sensor?

no... a sender unit of some sorts... pressure or temp

your o2 sensor will be in the exhaust. upstream will be before catalytic converters

 

[phucheneh]

You have one sensor in each exhaust manifold. They're threaded in, and they will have their own wiring pigtail that goes to a connector that's usually square and located a foot or more away. The pigtail has 4 wires covered with plastic sheathing (not tape or wire loom).

Read: go to a mechanic.

 

[SandEagle]

autohausaz.com
they have O2 sensors for your car. i can vouch for them. great products/prices/service.

 

[5150MyU]

Your upsteam sensor is located on the rear exhaust manifold (I believe there is only one upstream sensor on your vehicle).
Follow the front exhaust pipe up to where it bolts to the exhaust manifold flange, it should be right there, and it looks just like the one after your c/converter.

Your third link seems to be the one you want, not sure though.
You really want a direct replacement, not something you have to "wire up".

Call NAPA and see what they come up with or call the dealer to get an OEM number and see if a parts store can cross it over.

BTW if I remember correctly, it's a bit tight up there.

 

[phucheneh]

Your upsteam sensor is located on the rear exhaust manifold (I believe there is only one upstream sensor on your vehicle)..

Really? That seems really weird if true. I can't recall ever seeing an OBD2 car with multiple banks that didn't monitor each one separately...

I mean, it's entirely possible to have a problem affecting one bank (or one cylinder), and the O2 either wouldn't be able to correct for it, or might go all FUBAR on the unmonitored bank.

 

[sontakke]

I know for sure that Honda V6 3.5 (at least 1999-2004 Odyssey) has single primary and single secondary O2 sensor. I suspect all of that generation Honda V6 engines with MAP were using single primary O2 sensors.

 

[5150MyU]

Think about it- The 02 sensor is a fast acting sensor you see what it is doing at the time.
With the PCM and 02 it senses/sees what is going through the exhaust and at what time ---so it can determine the cylinder that is skipping (starving/flooding).
The computer works fast enough so that betwen the Crank postion sensor and Cam position sensor it can determine the cylinder that is giving problems.

 

[JCH13]

Think about it- The 02 sensor is a fast acting sensor you see what it is doing at the time.
With the PCM and 02 it senses/sees what is going through the exhaust and at what time ---so it can determine the cylinder that is skipping (starving/flooding).
The computer works fast enough so that betwen the Crank postion sensor and Cam position sensor it can determine the cylinder that is giving problems.

How do you know this is how an O2 sensor is used?

 

[phucheneh]

It's not...the O2 sensor, by detecting the presence of oxygen in the exhaust, tells the PCM how efficiently a bank is running. It can't pin it to a cylinder if there appears to be an excessive lean or rich condition.

The CKP senses misfires (through variations in the acceleration of the crankshaft) and the CMP is simply there for timing. They do not relate to O2 sensor feedback.

 

[JCH13]

It's not...the O2 sensor, by detecting the presence of oxygen in the exhaust, tells the PCM how efficiently a bank is running. It can't pin it to a cylinder if there appears to be an excessive lean or rich condition.

The CKP senses misfires (through variations in the acceleration of the crankshaft) and the CMP is simply there for timing. They do not relate to O2 sensor feedback.

This seems much more plausible.

The main reasons being that the O2 sensor has a serious sensing lag due to it's distance from the exhaust port and the mixing between each cylinders' exhaust inside the manifold.

 

[SuperSix]

I really like Denso sensors - seem to be the most hardy.

http://www.amazon.com/Denso-234-4021.../dp/B000C5WCL8

http://autorepair.about.com/library/images/bl612a-lib.htm

 

[5150MyU]

Just trying to keep it simple-engine RPM's come into the picture also.

 

[dabuddha]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be going back under tomorrow morning to have another look see. Thankfully I posted that pic before removing what's in the pic lol

 

[BUTCH1]

Yikes, my car needs 4 sensors, that's close to $200 for a full replacement set..

 

[Zivic]

Yikes, my car needs 4 sensors, that's close to $200 for a full replacement set..

and fair amount of V engine cars do as well...you aren't as special as you think you are.

besides, I recently replaced the upstream sensor on my evo and from the dealer it was 320 bucks, but was able to buy it for around 60 online.... be happy you know of the online deals, because 200 for 4 isn't really much money and the chances of having to replace all 4 at one time is slim to none.

 

[BUTCH1]

and fair amount of V engine cars do as well...you aren't as special as you think you are.

besides, I recently replaced the upstream sensor on my evo and from the dealer it was 320 bucks, but was able to buy it for around 60 online.... be happy you know of the online deals, because 200 for 4 isn't really much money and the chances of having to replace all 4 at one time is slim to none.

Special?, I've never felt special in my Malibu LOL, I was just surprised. Although replacing all four at once is kinda overkill they all eventually degrade over time IMO..

 

[Zivic]

Special?, I've never felt special in my Malibu LOL, I was just surprised. Although replacing all four at once is kinda overkill they all eventually degrade over time IMO..

you'll throw codes and should replace them as need be over time. 200 for 4 sensors is still cheap though