The operating principle of a titania lambda sensor is entirely different from that of a zirconium lambda sensor. A titania lambda sensor works like a coolant sensor. It changes resistance as the air/fuel ratio goes from rich to lean. But instead of a gradual change, it switches very quickly from low resistance (less than 1000 Ohms) when the mixture is rich to high resistance (over 20,000 Ohms) when the mixture is lean.
The engine computer supplies a base reference voltage of approximately one volt to the titania sensor, and then reads the voltage flowing through the sensor to monitor the air/fuel ratio. When the fuel mixture is rich, the resistance in a titania oxygen sensor is low and the sensor’s voltage signal is high. When the fuel mixture is lean, resistance shoots up and the voltage signal drops.