O2 Sensor wire..bad gas mileage

[PaulSheraton]

Alright so here's my problem. I get pretty bad gas mileage and have a very rough starting idle. After the first hundred feet of driving though my idle is solid right around 850-900rpm. So after searching the forums I conclude that a new O2 sensor is probably a wise investment and could be the problem. After buying one from Autozone I get home and pop my hood and see this..

So my question is this, how should I go about fixing/replacing the wire that the O2 Sensor plugs in to?

Bah the pictures are out of focus, ill try and get some better ones hold on..



PS: Its a 1989 Nissan 240sx I get around 250miles a tank :-(
Modified by PaulSheraton at 4:16 PM 8/28/2005

[180fan]

buy a non-tailed o2 sensor and then cut your existing o2 sensor off just after the damage so you retain as much of the insulation as possible. Crimp/solder your new o2 sensor wire to the old tail of your o2 sensor and be on your merry way.

[PaulSheraton]

So can I get a non-tailored oxygen sensor from Autozone? What do I ask for...Universal?

Thanks

[180fan]

Just get an o2 sensor for your car, but without the tail. For some reason, a crimp on plug with a rubber boot seems to add about 10-15 bucks from what I've seen locally to the cost of an o2 sensor ie not worth it.

[PaulSheraton]

what gauge wire do I need in order to splice into the wire leading to the O2 sensor? (the one with all the damage, not the O2 sensor wire itself)

after splicing the wire and changing the sensor I start my car and it rumbled and died. So i figure it means i spliced it wrong right? Well i redo the wire again and it does the same... what could be my problem now? I'm still thinking I used the wrong wire or something.
Modified by PaulSheraton at 5:42 PM 8/29/2005

[180fan]

the wire is shielded 16awg if I recall correctly. Might wanna check with your old o2 sensor at a hardware store.