986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - Finally replaced all 4 O2 sensors w/ generics for $160.

Tool Pants · 04-20-2007, 07:58 AM

Not all universal 4 wire sensors are the same.

The bank 1 after cat sensor on my 1997 has been replaced 3 times. Every 2 years it gets replaced because every 2 years it is time for a smog inspection. The replacements were the Bosch sensor sold by the dealer with the plug on the end.

This year I decided to go with a Walker made sensor, as I had it with Bosch. Walker makes several universal 4 wires sensors, but not for a 986. The only 986 sensor Walker makes is the "direct fit" which simply means it had the plug on the end.

Yet on ebay there was someone selling a Walker universal sensor for a Boxster for $20, but the seller could not give me the part number so I could look it up in the Walker catalog. Because if you look in the Walker catalog is says that the Boxster universal sensor is N/A. I then emailed Walker and an engineer explained why Walker did not sell a universal for the Boxster, only the direct fit.

So I bought the Walker direct fit on ebay for $109 plus $9 to ship.

I had checked out the Bosch universal sensor - but I had it with Bosch.

I should have the Walker sensor in the mail the next day or so. Will be interesting to see if it works and if it does for how long.

04-20-2007, 07:58 AM	#36
Tool Pants Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Jose Posts: 1,889	Not all universal 4 wire sensors are the same. The bank 1 after cat sensor on my 1997 has been replaced 3 times. Every 2 years it gets replaced because every 2 years it is time for a smog inspection. The replacements were the Bosch sensor sold by the dealer with the plug on the end. This year I decided to go with a Walker made sensor, as I had it with Bosch. Walker makes several universal 4 wires sensors, but not for a 986. The only 986 sensor Walker makes is the "direct fit" which simply means it had the plug on the end. Yet on ebay there was someone selling a Walker universal sensor for a Boxster for $20, but the seller could not give me the part number so I could look it up in the Walker catalog. Because if you look in the Walker catalog is says that the Boxster universal sensor is N/A. I then emailed Walker and an engineer explained why Walker did not sell a universal for the Boxster, only the direct fit. So I bought the Walker direct fit on ebay for $109 plus $9 to ship. I had checked out the Bosch universal sensor - but I had it with Bosch. I should have the Walker sensor in the mail the next day or so. Will be interesting to see if it works and if it does for how long.