Oxygen Sensor Question
 

On the 96 and 97 with a third oxygen sensor, is the rear one really a different sensor than the front(s)?
On subaruparts.com, it has both listed, but then on oxygensensors.com (much cheaper, and i dont mind getting the generic and doing some wiring) it has the same part number for both. I dont want to order that one from oxygensensors.com and have it be wrong.
Anyone have any info about this?

I do not know for sure but the difference may be in the length of wire to the connector for the suby parts. The generic ones do not have a connector so the part number is the same. Plan on where the wire connetor box will end up. I hope the leads are long enough. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

Just the wire length is different. The rear sensor has absolutely no effect on how the car performs, its only function is to monitor catalyst efficiency.

thanks for the info guys.
i think i am going to put in an old one from the front and see if i can get rid of my pesky check engine light..

i know i have read that the rear only tells you if the cat is bad and doesn't affect performance.
so if it throws the code that it is failed does that indicate a bad cat? or a bad sensor? what would the "bad cat" code be? (the OBD II code is what i am talking about)