Where can I find a cheap but good A/F sensor for my '98 Camry 2.2L California model? I would rather not pay stealership prices, so aftermarket products would be ideal. I'm having difficulty finding such products, and they aren't clearly distinguished from O2 sensors. Any parts website recommendations?

 

Dealership is better than getting the wrong part and possibly messing up your ECU. AF sensors and O2 sensors are NOT interchangable- and you will likely end up installing the incorrect part from an aftermarket vendor.

JJ

 

Ah... Air flow meters are in the intake tubing, o2 sensors are in the exhaust..there's a great deal of difference and it's impossible to fit them in the incorrect spot.

 

Determine if your car was built to California or 48 state emissions standards. There should be a sticker under the hood to this effect. This will determine if the car uses an O2 or A/F sensor.

Try the online website rockauto for a selection of name brand after market parts.

www.1sttoyotaparts.com and Dallas of Toyota sell genuine Toyota parts at a discount through the web.

Suggest using the Denso brand or a Toyota part to limit problems with compatibility with the cars computer and NOT to use a universal sensor.

 

Toyota uses Air/Fuel ratio sensors in some of their cars. This sensor works in place of an 02 sensor. Both of them look similar, mount into the exhaust, serve the same purpose, but work in different ways. What you are referring to for the intake is an airflow sensor.

JJ

 

Ah, my bad. I'm begining to realise, this is more an american forum ha ha.

I'm from Australia and we only have o2 sensors.

 

Thanks for the links Toyomoho. I will check them out.

As stated, my car is a CA model, and it is the air/fuel ratio sensor I'm looking for. It seems to me the dealership can grab the wrong part just as easily as any other place, so I want to buy somewhere cheaper.

If I were to get the wrong part, the CEL would come on fairly quickly, and I would know to return it. The O2 sensors and the A/F ratio sensors both operate in the same voltage range, so mixing they up wouldn't fry anything, but it would make the car run terribly, and over time will cause damage.

 

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,5132

 

Edit: Answered my own question by doing a bit more googling. The part I was looking at will not replace the OEM sensor despite a description saying it is for the CA model. Ended up buying this Walker sensor for $170 minus 15%:

http://www.partstrain.com/store/deta...ytic_Converter

I also picked up new struts and mounts. Hopefully this will keep my mom's 170k mile car going for a while.

 

This is incorrect. 02 sensors work from .01- 1V while AF sensors work between 0-5V . Not only that- but they may be wired completely differerent as far as sensor heater circuits so you may inadvertently cause a direct short to ground . If you give the dealer your VIN- there would be no reason why they would ever pull up the wrong part since they are ordering the part per your VIN.
On top of this- most auto parts retailers will not allow you to return an electrical item that has already been installed. You are simply asking for trouble by trying to save a few dollars. Spend a little more now- or spend alot more later.

JJ