Oxygen sensor wire missing, please help

[Chuck boogie]

I'm new to this forum and could really use the help of some experienced dodge owners. I have a 1997 ram 1500 sport 4x4. My CEL has been on for quite some time due to a bad reading from my upstream O2 sensor. I finally had some time to replace it today and when I crawled under my truck to remove it I noticed it was cracked off at the catalytic converter. I searched high and low looking for the other half of it to no avail. On top of that, I don't even see the harness that the sensor would plug into or any loose wires that would give me evidence that it was torn off at some point. With that being said, I have a few questions. First, am I right that my upstream sensor is bolted directly into the cat? Second, can anyone tell me where the wires that normally lead to the sensor are fed from? Or does anyone have the same model that may be willing to send me a picture of their upstream sensor and wire so that I can at least see which direction the wires are coming from to help narrow my search. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Brakelate]

Welcome.

Closest I can get is going out and having a look under my '07.

Not sure they wouldn't have changed things up in Ten years, but perhaps not.

For some strange reason, the little critters out here (Colorado Chipmunks) as far as I can tell just love to chew O2 Sensor wires while the vehicles sit in the driveway. Maybe that it is nice and warm under there ???

Anyway, post up if you think it would help and I'll go see what I got and snap a pic or two for you. If not, I am sure someone else will be along shortly that can definitely help you out.

 

[dodge dude94]

Yes, the pre-cat O2 sensor is screwed into the cat housing and the wiring is basically slung over the top of the trans. bell housing. I might be able to get you a picture tomorrow if the driveway isn't too wet.

 

[Chuck boogie]

I appreciate the help guys. My best guess is that someone cracked it off while off-roading and didn't know better than to simply replace it instead of ripping the wire out. I'll try to post a picture of what I found.

 

[NYCruiser]

Maybe Dodge Dude will be able to follow his wire and let you know where it's supposed to plug into. You must have a broken or cut wire in a harness somewhere that you will have to splice a plug onto. Meanwhile, I would look on top of the bell housing to see if it just got tucked up there out of the way by someone.

 

[dodge dude94]

Whoopsie. I know mine plugs in pretty much in the middle of the bellhousing, I'll go out in a bit and look for ya.

 

[dodge dude94]

Hopefully these help you:



The cleaner black wire is the O2 sensor wire.



The pan is the trans. pan.

 

[Chuck boogie]

I did reach up on too of the bell housing yesterday considering that's where the post cat sensor and various other sensors run from but I didn't feel anything loose. I'm starting to think my only option is to remove the loom from the wiring that leads to the control module and trace my way down looking for split wires. Do any of you guys know what color wires I would be looking for or possibly which harness off of the control module that they lead from? Again, I appreciate the help fellas, and thank you for going through the trouble of taking those pictures.

 

[dodge dude94]

Ugh, starting to sound like someone ripped it off. Taking it down as much as you can definitely is a good idea.

 

[Merc225hp]

Ok in the 96 FSM page 666 you will find the wiring diag for the 02's.

White/tan is UPSTREAM HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR SIGNAL

BK/LB is SENSOR GND

DG/OR is AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN RELAY

BK/WT is a Ground

 

[Chuck boogie]

Thanks to everyone that gave me advice. After about an hour of digging today I found the wires and was able to install a new sensor. I did find some dry rotted lines that appear to be some kind of vacuum lines broken off underneath. I'll post a picture of what I found, hopefully someone can tell me what they are. Also, I noticed some damage to my muffler so I figured now is the time for new cat back exhaust. I welcome any suggestions.

 

[Chuck boogie]

Thanks to everyone that gave me advice. After about an hour of digging today I found the wires and was able to install a new sensor. I did find some dry rotted lines that appear to be some kind of vacuum lines broken off underneath. I'll post a picture of what I found, hopefully someone can tell me what they are. Also, I noticed some damage to my muffler so I figured now is the time for new cat back exhaust. I welcome any suggestions.