2002 Taurus O2 sensor

That's nonsense. They need the VIN to look up any part, cuz that's how their computer based parts system works. The really young parts counter people can't even get you an oil filter without your VIN.

GW

Well - it ends up they got the wrong calibration - it had a blue connector instead of green and it would not fit. They re-ordered and got the right one -there are apparently 3 different sensors for the 3 liter duratech Taurus - and they are NOT interchangeable.

By the way, the parts guy is my age - just a couple years from retirement and been a ford parts man for over 40 years. The NORMAL situation is there is a production change at a particualr VIN - so before the break is one part, after the break is a different part. Not on the sensors. There is a "grid" or database, and certain serial numbers use one, while others in the same range use a different one.

"Calibration" must mean something different where you live. The wrong part is the wrong part, glad they got you the right one.

Of course there are three different oxygen sensors...all OBII V engines have three and some have four. They usually have different connectors so you can't put them in the wrong spot.

GW

You still do not understand. There are four O2 sensors on a Duratech Taurus. There are 3 or 4 DIFFERENT Bank1 #1, Bank2#1, bank1 #2 and bank 2#2 sensors. They are different for different engine calibrations. The different engine calibrations have something to do with the market they are sold into. Phoenix cars get a different calibration than Death Valley cars perhaps, and the calibration may be different for different equipment packages. At any rate, the different calibrations use different O2 sensors - and they get different connectors to make sure the wrong one cannot be installed by mistake.

ALL 4 connectors on a given car are the same colour.

I asked for information from "any knowlwdgeable ford guys out there". Sorry, you are not one of them. I've been a mechanic since 1971, but I'm not up on Fords. Spent most of my wrenching years on imports - Toyotas in particular.

I worked on Fords almost every day for ten years, in modern times, not in the 70's or 80's.

There's no "calibration"s for any OBD II cars of any make for different markets in the US. Parts guys make up BS like that all the time.

There may be different B1S1 etc part #'s depending on production date, but not for different places in the country.

GW

California emissions compliant cars are different. NY & NJ also require CA spec. cars to be sold there that I'm sure of. That's where the calibrations come into play, CA spec & 49 state spec. . Your mileage may vary........