Hey everyone, I am installing a 2003 4.6L in a 2001 F150. I went over everything on both engines before dropping the new engine in the older truck, and I thought I had all bases covered (fuel lines, connectors, exhaust angles, etc). Anyway, now that I have the new motor pretty much bolted into place, I realized that the two O2 sensors nearest the engine have a different connector than what the newer engine's harness has. They both are round with 4 pins, but the "idiot-proof" tabs on the connectors are in different locations.

So... This leads me to my question. Is there something different about the design of the 2003 vs 2001 O2 sensors? Can I just buy two new O2 sensors for an '03 and plug them into the newer engine's harness, or will the older computer be confused by the newer sensors (or will they not function at all due to some electrical difference)?

I can swap the harnesses yet I suppose, but it looks alot easier to just replace the two O2 sensors rather than change out the engine's harness (I may have to pull the intake to be able to swap it at this point).

Any feedback is appreciated!

 

Yea, - just take a sharp knife and remove that little guide. = Fixed. The guide doesn't effect connector ability. It was just positioned wrong. Since there is only one way the connector will plug into the other, the wiring IS correct regardless.

I've built/re-built many harnesses and this is very common among O2 connectors.

 

Thanks for the info. I will cut the guides off and give it run. I was just concerned that Ford may have changed something like the O2 sensor voltage or sensitivity or something, and that's why they idiot-proofed the connectors.

Thanks again!
Aaron

 

No problem Aaron, - you can compare the new harness with the old and see for yourself that the wires are lined up properly - (as a double check). The 2 heaters (white), direct PCM ground (grey), signal (black) should line up with the sensor harness being replaced.

BTW- Use Bosch or Motorcraft sensors only. These sensors are finned/louvered which spin the air for proper readings. Other after markets use holes that blast vs spin which tend to give scued readings to the PCM from the get go. These also cause a few other problems.

Good Luck on your project

 

Just being curious here, what did the 03 engine come out of?


.

 

Jean, I bought the engine from a gentleman in Minnesota. I believe he said it is from an F150 as well. Hopefully I will have it fired up tonight!

Thanks again for your help guys,

Aaron

 

Hey guys,

Just thought I would post an update on here. I finished bolting everything up, turned the key, and the mighty Windsor roared to life. Took the truck into town for a test run, and it runs perfect. Good acceleration, perfect idle, all accessories work. Thanks for all of your help on this and previous posts (Jean answered some other questions for me in the past).

You guys are lifesavers!

Aaron

 

Great! Glad it all came together well.

Congrats to you - After all, - You made it happen, I'd say you knew what you were doing for the most part.

 

You were the one turning the wrench. Congrats to you.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier