Splicing O2 sensor wire - shielded!?

1993, 4WD, 22RE.

The wire bundle going to the back of the truck fell off of the hanger
and landed on the exhaust (sometime ago). I was in the mountains at the
time and managed to wrap everything up and seemed like everything still
worked, so I scheduled the repair for a later time. Three or so years
later, I'm replacing the exhaust (down pipe back) and figured this is
the time to cut/splice the burned sections and make it nice again.
Everything was fine until I cut out the damaged O2 sensor wire.. I
didn't know that the O2 sensor wire is shielded, if only I had got
curious about the dashed lines on the schematic. Been a while since I
read one - my only excuse.

I can't tell if the shields are grounded but they do appear on the
schematic that they are connected together at the junction box(?). If
they aren't grounded, what would be the point? Where I am making the
splices, it's just before the O2 sensor connectors. So I think my
question is:

Can I just splice the signal wire and ignore the shield or do I
(somehow) have to splice the complete coax wire. Something I don't
recall ever doing.

Sure hope somebody can give me some advice, as my truck is basic
transportation and I need to get going.

thanks!
jim

There are three ways to splice coax the easiest is to just join (solder) and
insulate the two wires and environmentally seal a weatherpack or sealed
joiner [url]http://www.weatherpack.com/[/url] if the wire size permits, or use a coax
joiner either crimp or solder type the later doesn't require special tools
and again environmentally seal. The environmental sealing is important if
the splice is in the weather as corrosion will set in otherwise.
Joe

"jim" <jgraf@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:1160413085.262824.68300@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> 1993, 4WD, 22RE.
>
> The wire bundle going to the back of the truck fell off of the hanger
> and landed on the exhaust (sometime ago). I was in the mountains at the
> time and managed to wrap everything up and seemed like everything still
> worked, so I scheduled the repair for a later time. Three or so years
> later, I'm replacing the exhaust (down pipe back) and figured this is
> the time to cut/splice the burned sections and make it nice again.
> Everything was fine until I cut out the damaged O2 sensor wire.. I
> didn't know that the O2 sensor wire is shielded, if only I had got
> curious about the dashed lines on the schematic. Been a while since I
> read one - my only excuse.
>
> I can't tell if the shields are grounded but they do appear on the
> schematic that they are connected together at the junction box(?). If
> they aren't grounded, what would be the point? Where I am making the
> splices, it's just before the O2 sensor connectors. So I think my
> question is:
>
> Can I just splice the signal wire and ignore the shield or do I
> (somehow) have to splice the complete coax wire. Something I don't
> recall ever doing.
>
> Sure hope somebody can give me some advice, as my truck is basic
> transportation and I need to get going.
>
> thanks!
> jim
>[/color]

Thanks for the reply! I needed to get that little project moving, so I
ended up just splicing the center conductor and let the outer shield
float, which I regret now. I didn't do the one check which would be to
see if the outer conductor's on both O2 sensors were connected (but I
only had access to the one damaged wire). If they are, then I left
about 2 foot of the secondary O2 sensor wire unshielded. But the truck
runs fine and the 'check engine' light doesn't come on...

However, I am going to redo that whole affair as I really didn't have
the best repair materials. I could only walk as far as the Radio Shack
at the mall. I want to get those "Adhesive Lined Heat Shrink Butt
Connectors" from weatherpack.com (retails from Belden?). I remember now
using those or something like them in the past and they are wonderful.
Thanks for that link.

-jim

Jodabo wrote:[color=blue]
> There are three ways to splice coax the easiest is to just join (solder) and
> insulate the two wires and environmentally seal a weatherpack or sealed
> joiner [url]http://www.weatherpack.com/[/url] if the wire size permits, or use a coax
> joiner either crimp or solder type the later doesn't require special tools
> and again environmentally seal. The environmental sealing is important if
> the splice is in the weather as corrosion will set in otherwise.
> Joe[/color]