Which O2 Sensor Simulator?

[kmoore]

Hey guys I am ordering a downpipe from RRE and also a test pipe today. Since it deletes the cat, I need some way to foul that rear O2 sensor so that I don't throw a CEL.

So... I came upon these two O2 sensor simulator's:

1.) http://www.o2sensorsimulator.com/
- Little skeptical about slicing the wires, but if I have to do it, no big deal
- Little more pricey then the one below
- I believe it would work better then the one below

2.) http://www.obdloggers.com/o2simulator.htm
- Easy installation
- Cheaper
- But, I don't know how well it will work

If anyone has any insight on either of these, I would greatly appreciate it. Which one would you recommend?

 

[MarkAngelo05]

Hey guys I am ordering a downpipe from RRE and also a test pipe today. Since it deletes the cat, I need some way to foul that rear O2 sensor so that I don't throw a CEL.

So... I came upon these two O2 sensor simulator's:

1.) http://www.o2sensorsimulator.com/
- Little skeptical about slicing the wires, but if I have to do it, no big deal
- Little more pricey then the one below
- I believe it would work better then the one below

2.) http://www.obdloggers.com/o2simulator.htm
- Easy installation
- Cheaper
- But, I don't know how well it will work

If anyone has any insight on either of these, I would greatly appreciate it. Which one would you recommend?

Hey,

First of all, did you install the RRE downpipe yet?? I know that when I installed my 3 inch downpipe which deleted my cat, THE CEL for the rear o2 sensor NEVER CAME ON. You should try it first.

If it does come on, you can do the mod on Vfaq WHICH has PROVEN TO WORK - http://www.vfaq.com/mods/O2bypass.html

Take care, and good luck man!

Mark

p.s. I guess it all depends if your car was a "CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS VEHICLE" which you can find out through your VIN. I am sure mine is not a California model.
I've also driven the car for awhile without the rear o2 sensor in the exhaust stream, without any bad side effects. It was hanging in free air under the car.

 

[luvmygst]

^^^^^ The same thing for me. I am running a cat delete with a homemade cat back. I welded the rear o2 bung in, installed the o2 sensor and no CEL. Ben like that for months now.

 

[mattdev]

I just simulated my rear using this tut.
http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=221951

It's basically the same as the vfaq, but a little easier to understand. It works great. It takes some VERY basic soldering skill. I spent $12 (only because I spent $5 on new wire).

 

[DGajre777]

I did what ^^^ did. It costed me for $8 in parts for Radioshack.

 

[kmoore]

I knew about the VFAQ and how you could make your own. But, to be honest with you, I have no idea what they are talking about and frankly I don't even want to bother with it. I guess I will first install the downpipe and even see if I need to do a O2 simulator in the first place. I guess I'm just asking about personal experiences with the two I listed above. Has anybody else had an experience where they just installed a downpipe, which deletes the cat, and the DIDN'T throw a CEL? Thanks for your guys' help

 

[DGajre777]

It is not as hard as it looks. You can go to radioshack.com to order the parts and then solder it as they are in the picture in the tech article.

But in any case, I had my o2 sensor simulator installed before my downpipe, so I'm not sure if not having a simulator would throw a code.

 

[mattdev]

I have a completely stock exhaust and I did it just for fun!! (well, a few more reasons than that). It doesn't throw any codes or anything (it never did in the first place). But you can do what you please, it's your car.

Now as for your question:
The first one looks better to me because you do actually get rid of the sensor completely. And it is the same thing as the tut

I can't tell what the second even does WTF. But it sounds like it just moves the sensor, rather than replace it. My vote goes to the 1st one.

 

[kmoore]

I have a completely stock exhaust and I did it just for fun!! (well, a few more reasons than that). It doesn't throw any codes or anything (it never did in the first place). But you can do what you please, it's your car.

Now as for your question:
The first one looks better to me because you do actually get rid of the sensor completely. And it is the same thing as the tut

I can't tell what the second even does WTF. But it sounds like it just moves the sensor, rather than replace it. My vote goes to the 1st one.

For the first one you don't really get rid of it completely, you just strip back some insulation and soder in some wires. For the second you just screw in that "bung" and it is supposed to make the exhaust gasses flow past the sensor itself.

 

[SwitchSkier]

When doing the Radio Shack one, does anyone know if a "Electrolytic Capacitor" will work the same as the "Metalized-Film Capacitor" like in the tut? They didnt have the one from the pic, so I just got a different 1 Mohm cap.

 

[Xit40]

I have a version of the second one. All it does is allow the sensor to heat up and it has a little hole in the end so some exhaust gas possibly reaches the sensor. My CEL came on after I deleted the cat. I didn't really feel like playing with wires and I bought it with my cat delete downpipe I think it cost $8-$10. I've never seen a CEL again.

 

[kmoore]

BTW when I finally put on my test pipe I threw NO CEL. So a simulator was not even needed.