So basically that means that I shouldnt worry about reconnecting it, correct? If it doesn't do anything, why is it there in the first place? :huh:
You can find extensive debates on this topic in forums all over the net, even going to the point of suggesting dynos and data logging. I subscribe to the "not needed" theory for 4 wire sensors where the entire exhaust system is grounded via its connection to the block. There is one thread where people with 3 wire sensors replaced with 4 wire sensors to solve exhaust ground problems affecting sensors. Various theories for the exhaust ground strap include:
to make the exhaust quieter due to some mystery action on exhaust particles
to diminish static electricity
to improve cat function
to improve O2 sensor function
to minimize corrosion of exhaust system
to minimize RF interference
When I was installing headers, B-pipe, and exhaust, I noticed that my strap was also hanging, broken from the end of the ring terminal in exactly the same place. I had apparently been running w/o for a long period of time w/o problems. There are probably a lot of trucks in this condition, but I have not seen any threads about O2 sensor malfunction corrected by re-attachment of exhaust ground strap.
When I extended an aft O2 sensor harness, I noticed they were 4 wire. There are two heater wires, one signal wire, and one signal ground wire. In looking in the manual section ec.pdf I was unable to find any reference to the exhaust ground strap. The troubleshooting for the sensors advises to check the harness ground, but says nothing about the exhaust ground strap.
Nonetheless, I dutifully crimped and soldered a new ring terminal on the end of the strap and re-connected. It doesn't hurt anything and only takes a few minutes. The hose clamp would be fine also, I dunno if rust on the pipe makes any difference or not, but it could be sanded prior to attaching hose clamp.
