Where can I get an o2 sensor extender?

They're all over eBay; search "O2 sensor extender".

I purchased several last month because I needed to make a female thread adapter for something else.

 

Go to one of the cheap auto parts stores (Autozone, Pep Boys, what have you). Buy a "spark plug extender" They come in a small card pack, two each. You have to drill out the end, but it cost me $3 and they were a perfect length to stop CELs on a car with no cats...

 

That's a good idea, but be sure they have the correct threads. O2 sensors have M18 x 1.5 threads.

 

Dean and John:

Interesting. Would the O2 extender help with CEL's that seem to come on when it's 100 F outside? Cats on, of course.

Also, what size do you drill the hole?

Thanks...Mark

 

Dean or FBB ought to chime in here - I think FBB is running these on his 550 or the 'vette. I have no personal experience using them as CEL eliminators. I made an adapter from one to remote mount the oil pressure sender which also (and fortuitously) has M18 x 1.5 threads!

 

The part I bought has the same thread as the O2 sensor bung - not sure on the exact specs on it though.

I am not sure exactly how it works, but I suspect the difference in temperature and concentration of the gases away from the bulk flow holds the key, as I have seen people who used longer spacers when the initial length I used didn't do the job.

The ambient temp should not make a difference. The computer is just looking for a difference in the gas concentrations before and after the cats. This tells the computer that the cat is intact and functioning. Not magic.

There are other ways to accomplish this and they involve a resistor spliced into the circuit to offset the sensor to "fool" the system into thinking the reading is resultant of the cat's effects. Off road use only of course...

 

no that is a different problem. you got cats you dont need this

 

Okay, thanks. Any ideas on what's causing it. I know heat changes the outputs/inputs on a multitude of electronics. I'm pre-OBDII but assume that has nothing to do with it. I just can't read the codes. Time for diagnostic or just stay out of the heat?

 

you can get the codes by reading the CEL flashes in diagnostic mode. I do not know the way to enter the obd1 on the 456gt but there is a way. I also don't know how the car is setup. Left right on totally separate dual ECU's and Two CEL's? So first isolate is the problem left right. You cant pull codes then how would you even suspect it is from the O2's? You got to pull the codes to start trouble shooting. If you can read the flashes the SD from Ferrari can read limited data so then you would have to go that route. Once I fought with a ghost for over a year and developed a work around. Then a friend martin from Int Motorsports plugged his SD into my OBD1 on a 348 racecar and narrowed down the system for me trackside during a race weekend we had. I gutted that one system and rewired it and problem solved! That is just an example of what can be done.

 

Thanks FBB,

I asked previously if there was a way to get the codes, like by shorting certain pins on a diagnosis port to make the CEL flash like I've done on some other pre-1996 cars, but haven't heard of any way to do it. Maybe someone knows?

There's a button near the ECU (driver's side outside panel) , that say's it will send the codes to the dealer's diagnostic equipment. Haven't tried if that will make the codes flash though the CEL's.

I have 2 CEL's, 1-6 & 7-12, but, I think one ECU. Anybody know if I can read the codes w/o the SD-1?

Thanks......Mark in Houston

 

Well, I tried the button in the driver's-side foot well. I got some CEL flashes on 7-12 but nothing on 1-6 (it just stayed lit through the process).

Note: I don't have any CEL's staying or coming on, but have had them come on a couple of times after driving an hour or better in 100F+.

Anyway, I think I found these stored codes:

4131 (Compressor connection signal)

1121 (RPM Sensor)

Then I searched for the codes and found this post from 2004 on how to check the codes; don't know why I couldn't find it earlier:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24449

I think I'll try clearing the codes as described in the above post and see it anything comes back. Anybody have a guess on what my codes mean?

Thanks......Mark in Houston