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CEL - Wiring Harness Short O2 Sensor

9

98ContourZtech2.0

Be Gentle I'm New Here
Joined
Jun 22, 2003
Messages
4
I have a 2000 Contour I-4 that is throwing a CEL code, which is due to a problem in the wiring harness.

A year or so back, I busted my radiator and me and a friend replaced. After the replacement, evidently one of the legs of the O2 sensors was left dangling on the ground while driving unknown. The protective sheath melted from friction and then exposed the bare wire. Over time, the O2 sensor code for the front bank (i believe..cant remember the EXACT code at this moment) was thrown up, so we replaced it to determine if the sensor was bad or the wiring. The code returned, so there is a short somewhere.

My question is concerning the wiring harness assembly. The damaged wiring is behind the O2 connector (thus why still problems). Can this "leg" be replaced or would the whole Wiring Harness need to be replaced?

Any suggestions?
Thanks everyone, love my contour..have had 4 in my time, in fact only car i have ever owned. Hope to hold onto this Black 2000 for a while longer, just rolled 90k..but Im a little worried might have transmission problems in the somewhat near future.
 
Post the exact CEL codes.

"All" broken or exposed wiring can be repaired. Splice or Liquid Rubber (tape) which can be bought from Home Depot or Lowes.
 
you can order a new plug and wiring pigtail from Bill Jenkins at Team Ford. Give him a call, tell him you need to oreder an O2 2 terminal connector.

If you follow proper wire splicing techniques you'll be ok in doing the work yourself. You have to use acid free solder for electrical work. Acid core solder is too harsh for this application. And although it would technically work and hold the wire together, in time it will eat through your wires and you'll be doing it again.
What you need is usually labeled "for electronics" and usually as rosin core.

I don't know the exact shape of the one you have or I'd look it up and give you a part number.
 
thanks tony, will try to do that tomorrow.
20amp yellow, fuse 13.
Would be nice if it was that easy, but i fear not from seeing the damaged wires.
 
what I'm talking about is the shape of the harness connector for the o2 sensor. Some have round plugs, some are square and so on.

So the part that you need, which is what the 02 sensor plugs into, can be had through Ford.


Something else you could do, maybe, is to cut back the wiring harness cover (most likely it is just electrical tape at the point in the harness) and then rewrap those two individual wires to keep them from touching. Then rewrap the harness into one piece as it would currently look. The only thing about that is if your wires are damaged too much then it may not be worth it.
 
Thanks "Boss" :) I'll get on that today.

Looks like I might be putting the car in the shop next week, my neighbow backed out of the driveway while I was home and put a good $1500 "ding" into my pass quarter panel and bumber.
 
Save the money for maintenance and drivetrain repairs.

"Yeah, car looks pristine/perfect .....but it doesn't drive". :shrug:
 
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