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Originally Posted by thad_
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The non-fouler method you used is a better option. I would go with that. You've got the O2 sensor that screws into the exhaust pipe. Some of the earlier 3rd gens ('96-2000 I think) have the O2 sensors that bolts to an exhaust pipe flange, so we can't use that non-fouler method. I recommend ditching the circuit method and going with the non-foulers.
Again, I want to reiterate that I didn't come up with this mod on my own. I took how-to's from other sites, applied them to my 4Runner, then posted what worked for me. Eventually my rear O2 sensor died, and I never bothered to swap the resistor/capacitor over to my new O2 sensor. For now, I'm just living with the P0420 CEL because my 4Runner isn't my daily driver, and they finally did away with emissions testing in my area.
I took some basic circuits classes in college years ago, and since I don't use it in my day-to-day job, I remember little of it. I am not an electrical engineer. I do understand that this is a RC Low Pass filter that passes low frequency voltage changes, and blocks high frequency changes. The explanation below is the best one I've found as far as how the RC Low Pass filter works in this application:
"The time also called the transient response, required for the capacitor to fully charge is equivalent to about 5 time constants or 5T. This transient response time T, is measured in terms of τ = R x C, in seconds, where R is the value of the resistor in ohms and C is the value of the capacitor in Farads"
So to boil that down, increasing either the impedance (ohms) of the resistor or the capacitance (Farads) of the capacitor results in longer response time of the circuit. Conversely, decreasing either the impedance or the capacitance decreases the response time. The trick is finding what response time the ECU is looking for. If you want to keep going with the circuit method in lieu of the non-fouler, I would suggest replacing the 1MΩ resistor with a 510KΩ one, and see if the ECU likes that better. That should provide roughly half the response time as the original circuit. If that doesn't work, then I would try leaving the 510KΩ resistor in place, and replacing the 1μF capacitor with a 4.7μF one, and see how the ECU likes that. If the ECU is still upset, leave the 4.7μF capacitor in place, and put the original 1MΩ back in to see if that satisfies the ECU. If none of those work, then chuck the whole thing in the trash.
It's going to be a trial and error of swapping out resistors and capacitors to see what finally makes the ECU happy. I would recommend putting spade connectors on the blue and white O2 wires, and spade connectors on the resistors and capacitors so that you can easily and quickly swap them out.