Is there a cheap direct replacement for the forward O2 sensor? Who did you order from?

 

If you would like the sensor to actually work, you'll want to buy a Denso or NGK. Try rockauto or sparkplugs.com

 

How about a Bosch 13959 from Rockauto?. At $40 it is a price that fits the budget.

 

Are you selling the car in a month or two?

 

You can get a much cheaper O2 sensor if you don't mind splicing wires.

 

I might get flamed for saying it but I've always used aftermarket O2 sensors from eBay and have never had issues. I replaced a rear O2 sensor for the s2k when my cat honeycomb decapitated my previous sensor for $20 shipped. That was 20k ago. Passed smog, no CELs, consistent gas mileage.

 

You can't solder O2 sensor wires. So if you got a universal O2 sensor, you'd be depending on crimp connectors.

Rear O2 sensors don't affect gas mileage. They just monitor the cat. You can get away with cheap rear O2 sensors more than you can fronts. The front sensor provides feedback to the ECU to adjust fuel delivery. Rear AP1 Densos are $20something on rockauto. Can't get much cheaper than that....

You might get lucky with a NON-Denso/NGK O2 sensor in either position. But you may not. There's no consistency, and sometimes they will set a CEL right out of the box. I've had good luck one or twice...and I have had bad luck once or twice.

I'm sure OP bought the Bosch by now because its hard to take advice when faced with saving a "whopping" $54 or so. The denso is $90. The Bosch is $36. Hopefully it worked out for him.

Then again....rockauto must have some conflicting info. Denso upstream sensors (with connectors) are $37 for a 04-05 AP2. They're $90 for AP1's.

 

Great info.