02 Sensor replacement

[e_just]

Hello Last winter on a very cold day my check engine light came on. I took it to the garage to find out that it probably has a bad oxygen sensor. I put off replacing the sensor and once the weather warmed up a bit, the light went off. I had no trouble at all over the warmer months but now that winter is back, so is my check engine light. In fact it has been on and off 3 times in the past 2 weeks. My mechanic tells me that bank 1 sensor 1 is the faulty 02 sensor. He also tells me that the 02 sensor is a dealership only part. My question is, am I able to buy the correct sensor and do the fix myself? I am by no means a mechanic, but from what I have heard this is a very easy fix. Secondly, where exactly is the sensor located on my vibe? It is a 2004 base model with 70,000 miles.ThanksEric

[joatmon]

There are two O2 sensors, one on the back of the engine in the exhaust manifold, the other under the car in the exhaust pipe. Bank 1 sensor 1 should be the one in the exhaust manifold.They are not dealer only parts, I bought one at autozone. When buying one, be sure to get one for the right model, I think they are different for base, awd, and gt. Also, they may sell a generic, but pay extra for the plug and play one. The generic ones have open wires on the end, you have to cut the connector off the old one and splice it onto the new one. The plug and play OEM style one will have the right connector on it - no splicing. How hard it is to replace is a relative thing. steps would be something like - buy the new sensor - find the sensor in the car, see how the wire is run.- disconnect the neegative battery cable - disconnect the sensor wire (connector may be up to a foot from the sensor)- remove the old sensor. How difficult this step is depends on he tools you have. - important step: compare the new and old sensors to make sure. You bought the right one.- screw in the new sensor.- run the new wire and connect it.- reconnect the negative battery cable.The sensor screw in, but the wires make a regular socket useless. Don't know of there is clearance to get a wrench on it, with he heat shield and general lack of space back there. They sell o2 sensor sockets, designed to deal with the wires, you may be able to arrange a loan from autozone or some other chain.

[e_just]

Thanks for the help. I made an appointment with the dealership tomorrow but I think I may cancel. They are charging $89 an hour for labor. I watched a few videos on youtube and to me the fix just seems simple. I just need to make sure that I can get to the sensor and buy a few tools.

[lovemyraffe]

It is a simple fix if you can get to the sensor. I tried to get mine off and it was a pain in the (removed). There is a special socket to use on the o2 sensors, but if it is bad and you are going to replace it you an just cut the wires and use a deep socket on it.

[specialbuddy]

Just buy the socket. It's about 20-30 bucks but still cheaper then a Mechanic working on a job that takes 5 minutes.

[djkeev]

Also, very important, do NOT pull them from a cold engine. Not just finished a 100 mile trip hot but hot enough to make you pull you hand back if you touch it but no serious 3rd degree burns.You risk ripping the threads out on a cold engine. Not a good thing, not a cheap thing.Read a post on here about this very thing happening to a member to the tune of $600http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=39708Dave

[Mojo72]

I replaced my OEM first stage O2 sensor in May 2009 using a 7/8 inch ratchet wrench instead of the special O2 sensor socket because the fire wall was too close to the sensor. I thought about using a crowfoot socket so that I could use my torque wrench, but couldn't borrow one and didn't see the point in buying a set for one job. The main problem I had was in taking off the heat shield, which resulted in shearing off the two bottom bolts, which were heavily rusted. I screwed in the new sensor without torqueing it, plugged it in with no issues, and then replaced the manifold heat shield using only the two top bolts. I checked the sensor after a month and found it to be firmly seated on the manifold and the heat shield isn't vibrating very much or at all.

[stalinb12]

OK, so searching online for O2 sensor replacements, I find some for around $30 and some for around $100. Safe to assume that I should pay more and will end up with an easier to install item??

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by stalinb12 »OK, so searching online for O2 sensor replacements, I find some for around $30 and some for around $100. Safe to assume that I should pay more and will end up with an easier to install item??Whichever you choose, you still have to get the old one(s) out. Make sure the exhaust it heated up when you try to take them out.