Does anyone have any recommendations/experience on which brand of O2 sensor I should use to replace my faulty ones? It seems there is such a wide variety of replacements and costs but many of them aren't direct fit. Wire splicing is involved from what I understand. Any help would be most appreciated

Tyler

 

I replaced the upstream O2 sensors with Walker a few months ago. Amazon has it dirt cheap for US$70 each. It's a direct fit. No wire splicing is needed. Looks like Walker is an US company but the sensor is made in Japan.

 

Would those O2 sensors , if bad, make a car fail the exhaust portion of an inspection? I also have the 95 XJS 4.0.

 

Well, after experience with various electric "aftermarket" parts that fail months or even days after installation on my 95 AJ16 (for example MAF, ignition coils, etc), I always buy directly from Jaguar at jaguarclassicparts.com or from the dealership, its worth it to pay more for a part that will last 16 more years, and not doing the work twice.

However, on those circumstances where I can verify beyond the shadow of a doubt that the part I get directly from, say, Bosch or Sanden is exactly the same as the one I am going to get at the dealer for more money (like the Bosch alternator I got or the Sanden compressor I ordered directly from Sanden in Japan), , clearly, I go with the cheaper option.

Now to answer your specific question:

I replaced both upstream O2 sensors last week. One sensor I bought directly from Jaguar on a Jaguar BOX, part number LHE1682AA , dealer priced. This O2 sensor has the words "SAGEM/NTK" written on it. The second sensor I ordered was from oxygensensors.com for a lot less $ at 80.00 and it reads just "NTK". Now, I do not know if the Jaguar sensor with SAGEM/NTK written on it is any different than the other , but I doubt it. As a matter of fact I will order the two downstream from "oxygensensors.com for 80 dollars each, since both upstream are working well.

Are you getting any OBD2 codes? why do you want to change them?

 

In my case, I got check engine code indicate that the upstream O2 sensor were bad. After replaced the O2 sensors, the code disappeared.

 

You should get check engine code if the O2 sensors are bad. If your car fails smog inspection, common failures are the EGR valve and catalytic converter. You try cleaning the EGR valve. It's really easy on 95-96 4.0.