Im getting ready to install my new Thorleys and realized that Ive never changed my 02 sensor, I bet with 180,000 miles that its probably not working anymore! Anyway my question is this, are stock Toyota sensors really just a Denso that I could pick up from sparkplugs.com or is there something more to them? Are the direct fit really worth $50 more than a "universal" I mean if you cut your stock cable off and do proper water tight splices whats the difference??? I found a guy on fleabay selling NOS Toyota units for a great price but they are for 2wd and I think the leads are too short for my 4x4 so Id be better off buying a universal Denso and splicing my cable to it.. Anyway any input would be great!

 

The cheap universals don't last as long, for example my $30 Bosch needs replacement already at almost 30k. But it has a lifetime warranty at AutoZone so I can replace it for free. My biggest problem is finding a standard screw-on O2 sensor that is a Denso, because my custom exhaust doesn't have the <> Kind of plate that the old one did.

Really as long as the resistance is all the same your fine, but if it varys too much then there is something wrong with the wiring.