kennethboyd

I have a 96 Cherokee, a 96 block, and apparently a 97 valve cover and maybe a 97 electrical system? I bought the jeep 2 years ago and have just started replacing sensors due to some problems. I ordered 02 sensors, tps, and the 2 wire coolant temp sensor. The 02 sensors fit but the tps and coolant sensors have the wrong plug. I looked and it looks like a sensor for a 97 would fit. Can you guys help me figure out what's going on?

salad

Not sure on your block ID but which fuel system do you have? The '96 with vacuum FPR or '97 with a single pressurized line to the rail?

kennethboyd

I'm guessing this is the 97 one. I don't see any vacuum lines attached to the fuel rail.

salad

Yup that's 1997 stuff. September is usually into the next model year, yours is probably one of the last of that VIN range. 1996 is notorious for this kind of crap, some of them are '95 parts, some of them are '96-specific, and some of them are '97s. On the bright side, if you have a Chrysler 8.25, it's probably the better 29-spline version, AND your fuel pump can still be purchased new.

'97 sensors are definitely what you need.

kennethboyd

Awesome thanks. Now I need to decide if I get the proper 02 sensors or stick with what I have. Ngk rep said I should replace them (of course).

JBimmolate

According to production date it is considered a 1997.

Miles

kennethboyd

Based off of the door sticker?

salad

Well to run that fuel system you must have a '97 PCM which should be mated with an NTK 23151 upstream sensor according to the parts guides. Apparently the NTK 23121 was used only on the '96 XJ and '96-'98 ZJs.

I'm not sure what the difference amounts to between the two sensors, but I did find the following information from NTK (after some hair-pulling):

1996: OZA527-E36
1997: OZA419-C1

Based on their part number explanation ( http://www.ngk.com.au/oxygen-sensors...mbering-system ) they're of different internal design and connector codes. Whether these codes are different based on the design number (realistically they could be the same connector and lead with different codes) is ambiguous. If you've already installed the O2 sensor and the Jeep runs I'd just stick with it. If you haven't put it in yet, swap for the '97 spec. Typical 1996 bastardry may include mix-and-match wiring harnesses lol.

Would be fun to see if you can get a real build sheet out of Chrysler and find out which P/N was used... if it was even documented.

kennethboyd

Man you are awesome! I'll see if I can get a build sheet. It looks like the connectors are the same but the wire lengths and wire suspension methods are different. It seems to running fine, it's definitely better than before I changed them.

salad

Haha well then keep running them! Definitely see if you can dig up some info. Those '96s are tricky bastards.