Exhaust and O2 sensor on 1994 Mazda Protege
 

Howdy,

I recently went to the local muffler place and got the exhaust system replaced from the cat converter to the bumper. The pipe that comes from the manifold to the cat is a custom pipe that they can't make since it has that expansion joint for when the engine is twisting from torque. Anyway, the thing is a LOT quieter now. However, I do have a leak right between where the O2 sensor fitting is and the wield where the flange is put on. While not bad, he said it would be a good idea to replace it since it will eventually affect the O2 sensor and what it thinks is coming through. He doesn't have the pipe and he even admitted his supplier was very high for the pipe. I told him I would find one and go from there. The reason I went to them, they can custom build everything that they did replace. They bend their own pipes and wield everything into place. They do some really great work.

So, I have shopped around and found three places online that are reasonable on their prices. Rockauto is one and I have done business with them several times for things like wires, plugs and other maintenance items. No complaints but they are a bit higher than the other two. The other two are autopartsway.com and partsgeek.com which I have never even heard of. The cheaper ones come in at about $172.00 and rockauto comes in at about $190.00. That includes pipe, two gaskets and a O2 sensor. I know rockauto is the right parts for sure. I'm pretty sure everything is right with the other two but have a little room for concern with the O2 sensor. I looked up the part number on the manufacturer website but both places replace the OEM part number with their own. So, I don't know if I am getting the right thing with 100% certainty. Sort of thinking about going with rockauto and leaving off the O2 sensor for now.

My reason for the post is this. This car has 192,000 miles on it. I bought it new and whenever something acts up, I replace it. The O2 sensor is the original sensor from the factory, it has never even been touched. Should I replace it even tho there is no reason to think it needs it? The check engine light seems to think it works fine. It costs $80.00 just for it, depending on which place I order from. I gave it a good looking over and I'm pretty sure I can get it out without it messing something up. Just put a little PB blaster on it and let it soak a bit then try to screw it out. When looking at it, it is clean and such. It could get messed up while taking it off but pretty sure I can get it off in good condition.

Thoughts on transferring the old O2 sensor to the new pipe? Risky? Should work fine? May help and me not know it? Flip a coin? lol

Also, anyone ever done business with those other two places? Good folks or would pour more gas on them if they were on fire? :eek:

:) :)

OK now. Surely someone has taken a O2 sensor off and knows if they can be reused if working fine before removal. I'm not looking for a definitive answer but some guidance. I'm sitting on a fence here and need someone to tilt me one way or the other. lol

If you have taken one off that has been on a really long time, did it survive the removal process? Would me replacing it anyway maybe give me better gas mileage or something that may make it pay off?

Just give me a nudge folks.

:) :)

If the old O2 sensor is fine keep using it.

Thanks for the reply. At least now I know that if I get it out and don't damage it, I should be OK. Still room for error but at least there is a second opinion on this. I have never even replaced a O2 sensor before but have read they are picky little things. Odd since they can take so much heat. lol

I read somewhere the other day that the end that goes into the pipe should not be touched, oil on the skin I guess. I know this is true on some light bulbs but first I ever read on a O2 sensor. You, or anyone else, ever heard of this? I'm planning to not touch it anyway just in case.

Again, thanks for the reply. Now to go order that nice new pipe. :D

:) :)

The sensors react to a differential of the O2 present in the exhaust gases and the O2 present in the air. That differential creates a voltage that the computer reads. If the internal part is coated with stuff, lets say silicone deposits from a cheap gasket maker than the exhaust gases can't get to the sensor surface.
If on the external side the slots for the air are obstructed than we have a similar situation.
So: best is to keep things untouched. I often run my hand through the hair and the shampoo I use may have silicone in it. There is a chance to transfer silicone to anything I touch.

Well, I have severe psoriasis and I put on baby oil. It's not silicone but is still a oil. I know that halogen light bulbs will burn out quick when you touch them and leave the oil on there. I always clean mine with some type of cleaner after putting them in. They say the oil just boils a hole in the glass. I sort of figured when I read the same for O2 sensors that it could be true. I know I see on a lot of auto things that says it 'contains no silicone' and is 'sensor safe' and such that there must be something that can't be put on there.

So, when I take that thing off, I plan to be VERY careful and not touch the business end. I did order the pipe today. I just hope it is the right thing and works like it should. I like a quiet engine. Just not into glasspacks and all that noisy stuff. I like to be in stealth mode. :cool:

:) :)

severe psoriasis.....I can relate.
Silicone is a problem for the sensors because it does not burn off. They make baking molds out of silicone.
I think you are a little too worried about it. Just get it done and have a clean place (cardboard box) where you can store the sensor undisturbed.

Parts shipped today. Hopefully they will be here in a few days. Will try to post pics and such to. May help some other poor soul one day.

:) :)

Well, I got A part at least. I looked at the picture on the website before I ordered the part for this. The picture on the website matches mine perfectly. The part I got is not the same as the picture. I think it is for the smaller engine on the DX model. I bought the part from partsgeek.com so I guess I am about to find out how good they stand behind their sales. Heck, the O2 sensor is even plugged up. It says on the site 'with O2 sensor' but not on what I got. You can't put a O2 sensor in a hole that is plugged up and wielded shut. :confused:

Since they either messed up the part or have a picture of the wrong part, should I have to pay restocking fees or anything? I got a feeling they are going to tell me I have to. If they do, I'll be buying from someone else.

Thoughts?

dalek:
I am a little confused about what is what. But notwithstanding: If they screwed up advertizing they need to take the parts back. You are still stuck with the return shipping cost. That's bad enough, but it is the risk you took...

It shouldn't be a risk at all. If you have a picture of something, sell what is in the picture. I didn't get what is in the picture tho. I view it this way, I ordered a Mazda part but may as well have got a part for a VW bug, even tho the part was for a Mazda, it was the wrong one. I was very careful to look at that picture to make sure I was getting the right part. I wish they were as careful in either putting up the right picture or picking the right part.

This is one thing I like about ebay, they have a picture of exactly what you are buying. If you don't get what is in the picture, then they have to fix it. I hope they will stand behind their sale tho. They told me with pictures they were selling one thing but actually sent me something else. That's not right. I might add, this is the first time of all the things I have bought over the internet where I got the wrong thing.

I don't mind shipping it back but do not think I should pay anything else for a mistake that was not mine.

Here is some pics of what I got:

http://imageshack.us/a/img84/2905/201210220001scale.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img35/4105/201210220002scale.jpg

That O2 sensor port is not going to do me much good. It is completely filled in. I even felt inside the tube and it is solid.

This is what I ordered:

94 1994 Mazda Protege Exhaust Pipe - Exhaust - Bosal, Front - PartsGeek


You click on the image and a larger image will open. You think those two are the same thing? In the description, it says "Exhaust Pipe -- w/ O2 sensor". Does that O2 sensor look like it is going to do me any good? That part does not fit the image or the description.

I think they messed up. I think they picked the right part number but the picture on their site is not the right one. That picture, it's the only thing I really have to go by. They don't put OEM part numbers on their site so I can't even go by that. That picture is the only thing I have to really go on other than it should fit a 1994 Mazda Protege. Wrong picture equals wrong part. They put up the wrong picture and that is not my fault. Again, it shouldn't be a risk you take. You should get what you order.

You think they made a mistake? I do myself. Your opinion.

:) :)

"Exhaust Pipe -- w/ O2 sensor"

So you say there should have been an O2 sensor bolted in?

I think they meant "Exhaust Pipe with a threaded hole for an O2 sensor, O2 sensor sold separately." Anyway that is how I would have understood the ad.

The only difference in the pictures that I see is that the pipe you received has a plug in the sensor mounting boss and the picture on the site has an open boss. It also looks to me that the plug can be unscrewed with and Allan wrench.

Anyway it is a legal question and I refer you to the contract you engaged in when ordering.

Case closed for me.

No, the pipe I got is for cars with NO O2 sensor. That's why the one I have is plugged up. It is not for MY model car. The website says it is, the picture from the website shows it is exactly like what is on my car but what I got is not what is described.

I wasn't expecting it to come with the O2 sensor. Heck, the O2 sensor costs more than the pipe. Only a stupid person would expect that. I'm not stupid.

The other difference is the part where it expands. That part is flexible and the one I got is MUCH shorter. Mine goes all the way to the end where the flange connects to the cat converter.

If you can't see the differences, may I suggest you need to get your eyes checked again. Plugged up O2 sensor port, which I must have, and the flexible part is to short. This is not the same part. This part will not work. Heck, my 79 year old Mom can see the difference. She doesn't even know much about cars.

:) :)

Dalek:

You are right and I was wrong. They sent you the wrong part. I hope for you they will make it good when you contact them.
But read their return rules so you are prepared for what they may say. Try to stay friendly in the conversation.

Sorry again, and your mom rocks!

I was hoping you would take a second look. :D I did some searching. The one I got fits the smaller 1.5L SOHC engine from the way it sounds. Mine is a 1.8L with DOHC which leads to lots more torque and means the engine twists a lot more. That's what that expanding part is for. I bet that if I put that part on my car and pressed the gas for a quick launch, it would break something. The pipe I got would bind up something and whatever is weakest would give it up. That's not good. The difference can be really seen after I jacked my car up and put them side by side. That expanding part is twice as long on my old one.

Then add in the plugged up sensor. That is just plain dead in the water. I can't run my car without the sensor.

I'm fine with shipping it back, it's not that heavy or anything. The only worry I have is if they want me to pay a restocking fee or something. If they do, I may just sell it locally and then buy from someone else and not recommend them in the future. I should have got it at rockauto. I've had great luck there. I've had better luck there than at the local parts place. lol

I still have not heard back from them tho. Maybe tomorrow. I really want to get this fixed tho. Now that the rest of my exhaust system is quiet, that little hole is noisy. :rolleyes:

:) :)

I believe they confused the pipes for the 1,8 and the 1.5 engines. In fact i was thinking of mentioning this possibility in an earlier post.
It doesn't matter where they made the mistake, on the website or in the warehouse. It's their mistake.

We shall find out if they care about their customers.

BTW I have a few items lying around because of unclear or plain wrong on-line information.
Rock-Auto sent me some wrong rear brake lines.
Bike Nashbar made the most frustrating error: they advertised rims with 36 holes and when I put them in I had 4 extra spokes dangling from the hub. Anyone need 32 hole ATB rims?

Well, I got a RMA to return the part. Now to figure out which is the right part. I may order from them again since they did stand behind the sale. They do have good prices too.

I'm also going to go see if they corrected their website yet too. lol

Well, thought I would update a bit. I shipped the part then Frankenstein Sandy hit the East coast about two days later. UPS couldn't get there so it sat in a truck somewhere while waiting for them to do some cleanup. It got there today tho. Partsgeek said they do credits on Wednesday and Friday. So, maybe it will be credited soon.

I also got a email from them after the storm so they did live through it at least. Maybe their building is on a hill. lol

Now I got to go ask another question in another thread. Will update later. So far, they are doing good on fixing this.

:) :)

Well, I got a 100% refund except for shipping of course. I'm going to figure out a way to insure I get the right part this time tho. Trying to work up a plan on that one. :confused:

As it stands, Partsgeek did good. Even tho they had a really bad storm, they are making good on their sale. Given all that has happened with the storm and all, they are going pretty fast. I have no idea how much damage they have but according to google maps, they are right in the thick of it all. Pretty close to dead center really.

Post back when I get the new one and such. Let everyone know if the old sensor that has been in there for some 18 years will actually come out.

:)

Glad to hear this!! Hope you get your part soon and hope they keep going. Shoot some PB Blaster on the sensor and let it soak while you wait, that stuff is the best I have ever used for rusty/stuck bolts and things that are threaded.

I put some on a day or so before the last one came in. I think I got some through the hole where it leaks tho since the engine light came on a couple times afterwards. I guess it burned it off since it went out without me doing anything to it.

I may put some on but this time, after I know I have the RIGHT part. lol

:)