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can Oxy sensors be cleaned

2487 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  TierOneSupplier
Hi again

I needed to ask what you mechanics think about
me cleaning the old sensors I took out of my Avay today.

I installed new Denso type and they are a bit different in the holes that are in them. they are the right part number tho 4622's

These are Toyota brand and they sell for $185 a piece here at our dealer.
I dont think they are all that bad they have a bit of a whiteness to them.
I think they are not that old. I have 195,570 miles so by the way they look they might have been replaced at the 100,00 by the 2nd owner.

Does anyone have pics of what real bad ones look like?

I have the feeling I should soak them and thenwire brush them and put them away for a just in case day.

any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks have a great weekend everyone

Skullz:welcome:
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
Hi again

I needed to ask what you mechanics think about
me cleaning the old sensors I took out of my Avay today.

I installed new Denso type and they are a bit different in the holes that are in them. they are the right part number tho 4622's

These are Toyota brand and they sell for $185 a piece here at our dealer.
I dont think they are all that bad they have a bit of a whiteness to them.
I think they are not that old. I have 195,570 miles so by the way they look they might have been replaced at the 100,00 by the 2nd owner.

Does anyone have pics of what real bad ones look like?

I have the feeling I should soak them and thenwire brush them and put them away for a just in case day.

any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks have a great weekend everyone

Skullz:welcome:
It isn't unusual to have an A/F sensor go bad at 80k. Sometimes it is the heater circuit which is unrepairable. Cleaning the sensor will do no good. I suggest you chuck the old ones. Your new sensors will likely outlast your car. Even if they don't, do you really want to go to the trouble of replacing a sensor with a used one which may or may not work OR may or may not last more than a few thousand miles?

You can do a continuity check on your old sensors to determine if the heater circuits are fried.

PS I hope you didn't pay $185 for your denso sensors. You can get them at Amazon for $125.
I agree. Toss the old ones. The Denso 234-4209, which is the universal sensor that can be used in place of the Denso 234-4622 (and 234-4623), only costs $40.99 at Rock Auto. I used three of these to replace all the o2 sensors on our '98 Sienna back last winter, with great results. At that price, I wouldn't even consider swapping out sensors with old ones that already have 100k miles on them.

Our old sensors had 260,810 miles on them before code P0420 showed up. I did save them for future reference and went out to the garage a moment ago to have a look. They do have some of the white discoloration that you mentioned, but not really all that much. In other words, I don't think you can tell their age (or health) by how much discoloration they have.
I agree. Toss the old ones. The Denso 234-4209, which is the universal sensor that can be used in place of the Denso 234-4622 (and 234-4623), only costs $40.99 at Rock Auto. I used three of these to replace all the o2 sensors on our '98 Sienna back last winter, with great results. At that price, I wouldn't even consider swapping out sensors with old ones that already have 100k miles on them.

Our old sensors had 260,810 miles on them before code P0420 showed up. I did save them for future reference and went out to the garage a moment ago to have a look. They do have some of the white discoloration that you mentioned, but not really all that much. In other words, I don't think you can tell their age (or health) by how much discoloration they have.
Need the expensive A/F sensor if you have a Calif emission car.
Need the expensive A/F sensor if you have a Calif emission car.
Exactly, but he mentioned part number '4622 which is an o2 sensor. (IF he's talking about the 234-4622).

234-4622 is the plug-and-play o2 sensor, available from Rock Auto for $71.79. The universal sensor (part 234-4209), which isn't plug-and-play and instead required butt-splicing the leads, can be substituted for the '4622 and is a lot less expensive. The color-coding on the wires is the same, whether the 4622 is used or the universal 4209, so the universal is a pretty easy substitution.

I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time! Is there a Denso A/F sensor that has a different prefix but ends with '4622?
Thanks to you all who responded.

I actually got my NEW Densos at amazon for 61.00 a piece.
the 234-4622's

I noticed there was a bit of difference in the old toy ones vs
the New Denso's there are holes at the very tip and the old ones
just have holes on the sides up to the tip.

Probably just a bit of modern adjustments.

glad to have this service job behind me.

take care :thumbsup:
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Exactly, but he mentioned part number '4622 which is an o2 sensor. (IF he's talking about the 234-4622).

234-4622 is the plug-and-play o2 sensor, available from Rock Auto for $71.79. The universal sensor (part 234-4209), which isn't plug-and-play and instead required butt-splicing the leads, can be substituted for the '4622 and is a lot less expensive. The color-coding on the wires is the same, whether the 4622 is used or the universal 4209, so the universal is a pretty easy substitution.

I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time! Is there a Denso A/F sensor that has a different prefix but ends with '4622?
I Replaced them on 1999 Avalon

Here is the Part #'s Address & Prices Purch Jul/2008
from Mechanisville Toyota, Mechanisville, 6546 Mechanicsville Tpke, VA

1. One near Catalytic converter 89465-07010 List $197.46 Sold @ $111.46
2. One near the Firewall 89465-06100 List $196.13 Sold @ $105.99

I still have the rear one (near Cat) I erroneously removed & it confirm the part # 89465-07010 as listed for the replacement, & it was made by DENSO.
I just got a O2 Sensor replacement for $53.00 @ racepages.com, it is a plug and go. Forget the splicing..I pay a bit more for something that is way easier to replace. It is a "Replacement" not a Denso, but I though $53.00 was a steal... Considering there are 3 of those suckers...
I had no idea one could get a plug-and-play for that kind of price! I'm assuming they work well or you would have mentioned that. Thanks for the point out.
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