Are all 4 wire narrow band lambda sensors the same?

[Sensibleboy]

Apart from wire length and the connector plug how can narrow band lambda sensors differ from each other?

I have a 206 GTi running on an Omex 600 ECU. it uses a single standard Peugeot Bosch lambda sensor with a non standard AMP Superseal connector to attach it to a custom loom.

So rather than pay a lot for another Bosch sensor for a 206 which I will then need to cut the plug off to fit a Superseal plug, what's there to stop me buying a universal lambda sensor that's much cheaper?

[GreenV8S]

There are several different types of narrowband sensor which have completely different electrical characteristics. I wouldn't assume the mechanical fitting was universal either. I expect if you research the characteristics of the Bosch sensor you might well be able to find a compatible replacement, but you can't just assume that narrowband sensors are interchangeable.

Edited by GreenV8S on Thursday 9th February 21:31

[stevieturbo]

Sensibleboy said:

Apart from wire length and the connector plug how can narrow band lambda sensors differ from each other?

I have a 206 GTi running on an Omex 600 ECU. it uses a single standard Peugeot Bosch lambda sensor with a non standard AMP Superseal connector to attach it to a custom loom.

So rather than pay a lot for another Bosch sensor for a 206 which I will then need to cut the plug off to fit a Superseal plug, what's there to stop me buying a universal lambda sensor that's much cheaper?

Given it's just a narrowband and in an aftermarket application, I really wouldnt worry about it.

[Steve_D]

Copy from Omex 600 installation manual.
'Engines that are required to meet catalytic emissions regulations will require a narrowband lambda
sensor to allow the ECU to trim the fuelling constantly whilst in the emissions test and gentle driving
conditions. Any 3 or 4 wire lambda sensor can be used. If the engine does not need to meet emissions
regulations then it is not necessary to have a lambda sensor.'

Steve

[GreenV8S]

Steve_D said:

Any 3 or 4 wire lambda sensor can be used.

My manual for the 700 only specifies 4-wire, but the software doesn't seem to give any option for selecting between titania and zirconia sensors. They're very different electrically so I can't see how they would be interchangeable. Perhaps it's assumed that all sensors are zirconia these days, but you'd want to make sure the replacement sensor was the same type as the original.

[anonymous-user]

Considering how dumb an Omex600 ecu is, any narrow band "switching" type sensor will work fine!

(it's not doing any catalyst biasing or similar, it just looks for a voltage crossing (typically around 0.7V) to identify a rich-lean or lean-rich switch)

[Sensibleboy]

Excellent, lots of responses. I was looking at the ECP lambda sensors and it says some are for post and pre cat but I guess that's simply down to the connector that's fitted to them to make sure they are connected properly.
So it looks like I have some options then. Thanks guys!

[Mr2Mike]

Max_Torque said:

Considering how dumb an Omex600 ecu is, any narrow band "switching" type sensor will work fine!

(it's not doing any catalyst biasing or similar, it just looks for a voltage crossing (typically around 0.7V) to identify a rich-lean or lean-rich switch)

Titanium and zirconia sensors are both narrow band switching types, but are fundamentally different; one produces a high impedance voltage, the other varies it's resistance. It's most unlikely a Titanium sensor would work on a ECU designed for a zirconia type.