Lambda Sensors....

[Mazda Ebrahimi]

Frank/G.speed wrote:
> 
> My understanding is that the current oxygen sensor used on mass
> produced vehicles are only good to tell you if you're at stoich.
> Other wise it can tell you that you're rich or lean, but it can't
> tell you how much.  If it did, then the ECU can just make adjustments
> constantly and you won't ever need to go open loop unless something
> fails.
> 
> Now, I don't understand the difference in a $5000+ Horiba oxygen
> sensor and a $30 Bosch for regular cars.  I mean, I know a good
> sensor has a wide range and can tell you the exact A/F ratio.  But
> why are they so expensive.  Please, get techical if you have to.
> I'd love to learn more.


>From what I recall, the sensor is not the major part of the expense, but it is different 
from the regular Zirconia based sensors (I can't find my reference materials).  The 
expensive part is the conditioning electronics that translate and linearize the sensor 
output.