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A helpful repair forum suggested removing the oxygen sensor from underneath the car by first removing the catalytic converter at the exhaust manifold. Another poster thought access could be made from under hood above after removing the wiper assembly and other bolt on pieces. The former sounded like a can of worms with possible rusted or frozen manifold nuts so I went in from the top side. I found it unnecessary to remove anything. You can snake your arm between the cowl and engine cover to put the special 22mm slotted socket and ratchet wrench onto the plug by feel. The photo shows what is hidden to the eye behind the transverse mounted engine. (I had to guess at the camera angle with several attempts to frame the shot.) Luckily the plug threads release without a cheater bar or skinned knuckles. The sensor’s cabling follows the head shield to under the car and abeam the catalytic converter where the end plug is located. There is a universal part which replaces the original but it requires identifying and splicing wires. The cost is a bit higher but do yourself the favor and purchase an OEM style part with the correct wire length and connector. There is a second sensor positioned after the converter which is easier to get to but that one only monitors catalytic converter health and is likely not the one needing changed. That figures, right? Total time to R & R the forward O2 sensor: 100 minutes. |
