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ECU flashing and disabling the O2 sensor

7211 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Kylerbry21, 
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When flashing the ECU and disabling the O2 sensor, does the O2 sensor need to be unplugged? There appears to be some difference of opinion on the subject and I am curious to know what others have done with the O2 sensor after flashing and disabling the O2?

Does it make any difference to unplug the O2 if it's disabled? If you need to unplug the O2 sensor then it really isn't disabled correct? I'm a bit confused.

On my 400 I left the O2 plugged in after flashing and also left it plugged in on the 636 after flashing. So far I have not experienced any performance issues, CEL, etc.

I'm in the "If it ain't broke don't fix it" category but since I have never had the ECU flashed AND unplugged the O2 I don't know if I'm missing something?
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Tills
So it's my understanding that the O2 sensor will actually attempt to edit over a power commander and possibly cause a FI error if you do not disable it. With a flash you're able to overwrite the stock fuel mapping, disable the sensor, and again to my understanding, be free from these possible FI errors but I'm sure it's a better safe than sorry type of thing to just remove it and not have to worry about it causing any possible errors even if it is disabled. I mean less hands (Electronics) in the cookie jar (ECU) = less problems (FI Errors) right?

I have had zero issues with having my O2 sensor unplugged, removed, and capped on my header. Other people I've heard from remove it for weight savings, ease of header removal, etc.

But this is all just my opinion on the subject after my own experiences and maybe someone else has reasons as to why you should just leave it?
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Tills said:
So it's my understanding that the O2 sensor will actually attempt to edit over a power commander and possibly cause a FI error if you do not disable it. With a flash you're able to overwrite the stock fuel mapping, disable the sensor, and again to my understanding, be free from these possible FI errors but I'm sure it's a better safe than sorry type of thing to just remove it and not have to worry about it causing any possible errors even if it is disabled. I mean less hands (Electronics) in the cookie jar (ECU) = less problems (FI Errors) right?

I have had zero issues with having my O2 sensor unplugged, removed, and capped on my header. Other people I've heard from remove it for weight savings, ease of header removal, etc.

But this is all just my opinion on the subject after my own experiences and maybe someone else has reasons as to why you should just leave it?
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Ok, I went ahead and unplugged the O2 sensor since that is what Moore Mafia recommended. Thanks for the input.
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KawasakiBrad
If the O2 sensor is disabled in the ECU it is no longer needed at all. Put it on ebay for $100 and call it a day. Plug the hole in the exhaust though M12 x 1.25 plug btw.
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KawasakiBrad said:
If the O2 sensor is disabled in the ECU it is no longer needed at all. Put it on ebay for $100 and call it a day. Plug the hole in the exhaust though M12 x 1.25 plug btw.
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Well @KawasakiBrad, I am just trying to figure out why the o2 needs to be unplugged at all after an ECU flash disables the o2 sensor? I had my Ninja 400 ECU flash by Superbike Unlimited and Freddy never mentioned the need to unplug the o2 sensor. I left the o2 plugged in after the SBU flash and the bike ran perfect.

So there is a grey area on whether or not the o2 "needs" to be unplugged which I don't understand. Either the o2 is disabled or it isn't, there shouldn't be a ''maybe the o2 needs to be unplugged".

Moore recommends unplugging the o2 sensor but Superbike Unlimited makes no such recommendation.
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KawasakiBrad
SCNinja636 said:
Well @KawasakiBrad, I am just trying to figure out why the o2 needs to be unplugged at all after an ECU flash disables the o2 sensor? I had my Ninja 400 ECU flash by Superbike Unlimited and Freddy never mentioned the need to unplug the o2 sensor. I left the o2 plugged in after the SBU flash and the bike ran perfect.

So there is a grey area on whether or not the o2 "needs" to be unplugged which I don't understand. Either the o2 is disabled or it isn't, there shouldn't be a ''maybe the o2 needs to be unplugged".

Moore recommends unplugging the o2 sensor but Superbike Unlimited makes no such recommendation.
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Please re-read what I wrote. "If the O2 sensor is disabled in the ECU it is no longer needed at all."

Leave it plugged in, unplug it, doesn't matter. It's a paperweight now. Personally I try to not carry around paperweights on my bikes but if you really want to it's not the end of the world.

Someone who is setting world records on drag bikes (Chris Moore) doesn't get there by carrying around paperweights. If you're wondering why one business recommends it and one does not maybe you should get in contact with them and find out why. Please post back here, I'm curious to hear what they say.
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KawasakiBrad said:
Please re-read what I wrote. "If the O2 sensor is disabled in the ECU it is no longer needed at all."

Leave it plugged in, unplug it, doesn't matter. It's a paperweight now. Personally I try to not carry around paperweights on my bikes but if you really want to it's not the end of the world.

Someone who is setting world records on drag bikes (Chris Moore) doesn't get there by carrying around paperweights. If you're wondering why one business recommends it and one does not maybe you should get in contact with them and find out why. Please post back here, I'm curious to hear what they say.
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Yes I read it and I get it which is why I am wondering why some tuners (Moore) are recommending unplugging the O2, not removing it to save weight, just unplugging it.

When I pressed Moore on the subject he was unsure if the O2 actually needed to be unplugged or not and only mentioned a problem with a ZX14 that required the O2 to be unplugged after an ECU flash. On the Moore ECU flash sheet he specifically recommends unplugging the O2. So I basically said exactly this to Moore when he said to unplug the O2 "If the O2 sensor is disabled in the ECU it is no longer needed at all so why should I unplug it" to which Moore responded, leave it plugged in and see if there is a problem.

So I left it plugged in after the Moore ECU flash and didn't have any issues and then I unplugged it to see if there is any different. Unfortunately I haven't been able to test ride with the O2 unplugged because I had to send my ECU back to Chris to have the "decel fuel cut" disabled because Chris doesn't disable it unless asked, so I am waiting for the the ECU to be returned so I can test ride with the O2 unplugged.

I've asked SuperBike Unlimited to comment on the ZX6R ECU flash and the O2 sensor and will post the reply.

SuperBike Unlimited advertises the ECU flash as a "Race Flash" because they are a sport bike racing focused organization.

www.superbikeunlimited.com

2019-2021 Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 Race ECU Flash - 2019-ZX-6R-FLASH

2019-2021 Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 Race ECU Flash
www.superbikeunlimited.com www.superbikeunlimited.com
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KawasakiBrad said:
If the O2 sensor is disabled in the ECU it is no longer needed at all. Put it on ebay for $100 and call it a day. Plug the hole in the exhaust though M12 x 1.25 plug btw.
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Thanks KB, I'm going to take your advise and remove the sensor and plug it up.
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riverszzr
I usually leave them plugged in post flashing, or remove them all together and put in a plug........ but I have never had any issue on any bike leaving them plugged in

but I have had bikes come in with it still in the exhaust but unplugged from the harness........ the only downside I really see to this is damage is more likely to happen to either one end or both of the unplugged connector- as I did have a bike arrive with the connector melted to the exhaust once...
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I also left my last one plugged in but went ahead and removed this one based on the tuner and forum comments.

Removal and plugging is easy enough. Anyone attempting this for the first time should start from the bottom and work your way up top. Then pull the o2 through the top side and use a flat head screw driver to release the plug. The tank needs to stay open and I used cut-up carpet roll to hold the tank open and also hold the bike steady while working by using the Puig puck sliders.

The o2 weighs 71 grams in case anyone cares.
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Texas636
Wonder if that's a Narrowband O2 or a Wideband O2...
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Texas636 said:
Wonder if that's a Narrowband O2 or a Wideband O2...
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That's a narrowband O2.
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Kylerbry21
SCNinja636 said:
Ok, I went ahead and unplugged the O2 sensor since that is what Moore Mafia recommended. Thanks for the input.
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where is the O2 sensor plug located on a 2023 ZX6??
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