New O2 and no go? ST215

[peas]

Hey all. Driving the Caldina today to ironically get a new O2 sensor and my car dies. I have a look and the insulation has melted around the 4 wires entering the sensor, it was running rough and I noticed that the insulation was perishing hence the trip to get a new one. So its shorted or something. Anyway car trucked home and part couriered. Fitted new one (checked and triple checked the wiring colours to line up with the Bosch one) and turned car over but to no result. Plenty of battery juice, fresh gas in tank, couldn't see any fuses blown in the engine bay... so any ideas for getting the pig going again?

[RS13]

A stuffed 02 wouldn't cause the car to die I wouldn't think. You've run codes?

[peas]

I confess that I have not run the codes yet. I removed the sensor to try and get some tape around it as a temporary measure prior to going in to get a new one. It drove down the road, stopped, got gas, drove off and died about 700m down the road. The wires definitely have touched, not sure if there is anything in the circuit that can blow. My understanding is that they run on pretty low voltages so perhaps the heater wires may have over cooked it?? I have disconnected battery to reset as well but no joy.

[Malcolm]

Have you checked error codes? Biggest concern would be the possibility that the wires shorting has burned out the sensor supply in the ECU which is causing other sensors to not read correctly. The O2 sensor usually wouldn't prevent the engine running

Edit: just realised you said you haven't checked the codes...do it

[Lloyd]

Popped the ECU or one/more of the fuses for it if the heater wire has melted and touched something. The sensor itself dying shouldn't cause any real issues, shorted wires are another story though.

[peas]

Hey, went out and checked the fuses in the cabin. Nothing there but the 15a EFI in the engine bay had blown. Must have missed it in the low light last night when I tried to check. So the story goes that the insulation on the wires melted, shorted on the metal body of the O2 sensor and then blew the EFI fuse. Both replaced and running much better now with the new O2. Thanks for your suggestions.