For the life of anything i can't even really get any tools down there little alone crank on it hard enough to get it out. I need to get it out soon to get the new one in so i have a vehicle to drive. Pleeeasee help i am desperate, for all you guys that changed yours, how did you do it?????????

 

it has to be taken out w/ a new header installation too..im also wondering since i have horrible exhaust heat shield chatter....it seems like its in there w/ its own bolt?

 

get the extension. I paid 5 bucks for a mechanic to do it

 

come on some of you guys had to have done this without ripping everything out.. how did you do it????????

 

Well, I had to take my exh. manifold OFF in order to get to mine... so while i did that, I said '**** it' and got headers .

 

I just changed mine, it really wasnt that hard at all. Just get a special oxygen sensor socket (one thats really deep with a notch out of it for the wire), a long extention and a universal, and turn really really hard. Its in there good

 

There's actually an O2 socket tool available at your local auto parts dealers that's basically a deep 22mm socket with a slit on one side, so that you can slip the wire in there.&nbsp This should cost about $10 each.



-Ted

 

You can rent them from autozone too if you have a credit card.
Makes the job take about 30 seconds.

 

Spray some Penetrating Libe on the outside of it let it sit alot easyer...

 

Just replaced mine. Use O2 socket, universal joint, long extension. Best to break it loose when engine is hot, then install after cool down.

 

$15 deposit for loaning the tool out at autozone. Get a fricking breaker bar and an extension Dont worry, I only broke 2 adaptors trying to get that off. I have had worser luck getting plugs off 3.1 GMs. It aint that bad, squirt it with a little PB Blaster also available at autozone for $2.99

 

when I changed mine on my '82 BMW (think it was still original) there was no way in hell I was going to budge it. It took 2 large guys at the shop about 20 minutes going at it with a torch and pry bar to get it out. it took 20 minutes because they'd heat it up so hot they couldn't hold the wrench anymore. they'd get a 1/4 turn every minute of torching.

for the bimmer it was on there for 20 years just slowly welding itself in place from exhaust heat (that big inline 6 puts off a lot of heat too!).

it might be a good idea to get a threader to make sure the threads are still good and clean when you are done before you put the new one on. if you can't get it off, don't worry. take it to a shop, it might take more than one person can muscle.

 

The O2 sensor tool was not gripping enough on mine, it kept slipping. I snapped the O2 sensor, then used a regular deep socket with a breaker bar. Really, really in there.

 

You really have to have a long enough extension so you can work outside the engine bay.
I cobbled a few extensions and a universal together with a T-bar and finally broke mine loose.

The new Bosch universal replacements come with anti-seize on the threads already!

Cory

 

i went to sears and got a stubby little open ended wrench (its identical to normal open ended wrenches except its shorter) It fit perfectly into the little space available.

 

I did it when I had my manifold off. Man, that thing was tight. Good luck getting it off in the car. I had to use WD-40 and a hammer on the crescent wrench to finally get it off!!

 

WD-40
turned the car on and sprayed more WD-40
next morning sprayed some more WD-40
jacked up the car
placed the wrench on the O2 sensor nut
used my right leg to push on the wrench and loosen the nut
then I just kept turning the nut with the wrench with my hand.

 

I use an O2 socket and a 4 foot breaker bar. Works every time, and takes about 15 seconds.

 

Mine came right out

 

soak it in liquid wrench overnight...

 

there is a tool that you can buy just for that and then put an extention on to get to it. Plus it is better to do it when the car is warm that way you dont break it getting it out.

 

i had to use the special o2 socket, a 6in extention and a breaker bar to get it off. i had to get on top of the engine to get enough leverage on it. it took me 3 hrs to do but its possible