In a message dated 07/06/2005 12:10:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

I have  been driving Matilda with the O2 sensor disconnected since the new
Boston  Bob engine went in.  Put on 1200 miles, she's running great.  Then  I
remembered that the O2 sensor wasn't connected, so I reconnected  it.  Then
she ran doggy, low power especially getting going, and black  soot in the
exhaust pipe.  Disconnected it again and she runs  fine.  Which seems like
good evidence that the O2 sensor got fried  when the old engine did.

But how do I know whether I need new  connectors or I can just get the
sensor?

Joy, the connector is very seldom at fault.   It's just a mechanical
connection and if the plug or contact points are visibly  bad it should be good.
Running with the OXY sensor unplugged may have  plugged your CAT and installing a
new OXY sensor may not cure your problem  without installing a new CAT or
removing all of the plugged ceramic out  of the old CAT.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com