I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that when I spliced the sensor in, I actually added wire length to the harness.  I wonder if the extra resistance due to the extra wire is affecting the small voltages that the sensor sends back to the digifant.  Just a thought.  I plan to test the theory this weekend, by shortening the harness by the length of the wires coming from the sensor.  

----------
From:   MIME :eddebolt@softcom.net[SMTP:MIME :eddebolt@softcom.net]
Sent:   Thursday, June 27, 2002 1:11 PM
To:     Woten, Rodney
Cc:     lkwoten@YAHOO.COM
Subject:        Re:      '87 westy oxygen sensor problems.

Rod

I had the exact same problem with the generic sensor. I spliced it a bunch
of ways and same result. the local shop here in Reno says they have tried
the generic sensor with same results. I ordered the prewired sensor from BD
and installed it no problems since. I know some people use the generic okay
but all I have had are problems. I have a barely used generic sensor for
sale btw.

I guess it could be a problem with the harness on the old sensor. other than
that I am at a loss as to why it works for some and not for others.

the 2 white(no polarity)  wires are to pre heat the sensor and the black
wire is the data feedback wire.

ed
-----Original Message-----
From: Rodney Woten <rodney.woten@LENNOXIND.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, June 27, 2002 11:04 AM
Subject: '87 westy oxygen sensor problems.

>Greetings all,
>
>Hoping someone can help out.  Unfortunately I need to make a short story
long (or a long story even longer), so please bear with me.
>
>My wife & I bought an 87 Westy in Columbus, OH.  Somewhere between there
and our home in Des Moines, the exhaust system became disconnected at the
flange between the elbow pipe attached to the caty and the convergence of
the headers.  Problem is that as this fell to the ground, the wires were
ripped from the oxygen sensor.  We finished our drive home, and although the
van seemed to be running a bit rich, it ran very well.  A week later the new
oxy sensor shows up on our doorstep.  I splice it in as I was instructed to
do and take it out for a test drive.  Pulling away from stop signs there was
major hesitation.  You could put the accelerator all the way to the floor
and the van would creep/almost stall until about 2500 RPM's when it would
take off like a racehorse.  I thought maybe I spliced the wrong white wire
to the wrong matching white wire, so I went home and switched them.  The
next morning I tried it again.  It ran very well for about 15 minutes, then
it was back to its old tricks again.  I unhooked the sensor and the van runs
fine again, albeit a bit on the rich side.  I have to wonder of the old
sensor I removed was even working before the wires were ripped out of it.
What else should I check??
>
>Thanks in advance!!!
>Rod Woten
>Wally the '87 Westy
>