O2 sensors.. because Ford clearly hated us! Tips or outright help, anyone?

[King_V]

Alright, I have changed oxygen sensors before. Granted, on front-drive vehicles, and the oxygen sensor was in a pretty convenient location.

Clearly not the case here! I only attempted the driver-side sensor. Granted, it's the factory original, and the car has 119k miles on it, so I guess being stuck isn't surprising - but the difficulty of access is just stunning!

I finally managed, at a slightly off-angle, to get a long-ish 7/8 wrench on it, and couldn't get it to budge! Heck, I still really couldn't get a good enough view to even see how the connector for the wires attaches/detaches.

Anyone have any tips-to-make-this easy? Any volunteers free in my area next weekend?


(ok, the fact that I lost my oxygen-sensor-socket is my fault, not Ford's, of course, but still, I can't believe how difficult this is turning out to be!)

[85crownHPP]

They are a PITA... a long soak with penetrating oil is definitely in order. Most of us at the shop have 2 or 3 different styles of O2 sockets, sometimes you have to have a combination of the right socket and a flex-head 1/2 ratchet to get some of them. Sometimes a 7/8 crow-foot (line style) does the trick.
If you are committed, you can try cutting the wires so you can get the box-end of your wrench on it. The open end usually slips off in a fierce way, taking the skin off all your knuckles when your hand smashes into something. If you can get the box end on it, you can try using a big prybar (or something similar) and a hammer to give the wrench a good whack.
Changing the O2 sensors was the hardest part of my CFI-SEFI conversion...

[gadget73]

they make special wrenches for this. I've used Scott's with fairly good results. The one he has looks like a flare nut wrench with a swivel head. Getting to it is half the battle. Making it move is the rest of it.



The plug should be hanging back there behind the motor somewhere, about a foot from the sensor itself. I think it has a lock tab. its sort of a dick to undo because its out of reach but there isnt much help for that. Try chopping the wire to the old sensor, then pulling the dead end up so you can reach the plug easier.

[HiFiMerc]

I've never doing O2 sensors again. I changed them on my '92 last year. It was a nightmare. I'll pay an hour of shop labor from now on.

[mobydick]

I've never doing O2 sensors again. I changed them on my '92 last year. It was a nightmare. I'll pay an hour of shop labor from now on.

^ This

[jaywish]

Anti Seize Compound is your friend.

[BuffaloRider]

Jesus, that was on my list of things to do this summer. I even looked back at them, followed the lines back to where they connect and thought to myself "that shouldn't be too hard". I should have known better, nothing's ever simple lol.

It would be nice to pull it off without buying another tool.

When threads get locked up at the machine shop I work at we usually use a couple good hard taps against a solid surface, or with a steel hammer, not the soft kind. The vibrations help break it loose and help the wd-40 or whatever get down into the crevices. Maybe a couple good whacks on the old sensors might help if you haven't already. Just don't hit it too hard though.

[HiFiMerc]

Anti Seize Compound is your friend.

Tell that to the factory.

[GM_Guy]

My box has a giant lip around the machined O2 sensor flat (aka the o2 mount is recessed into the manifold), needed to use a regular socket to get the bastard out. The o2 sockets where all too thick to fit into the recess.

Alex.

[Toploader]

I paid my bud $250.00 to put two new ones in my '86 GM Tudor, this included the two FoMoCo OEM O2 sensors He claimed he lost money on the job, but as we are childhood friends he sucks it up

^ This

[Tiggie]

I cut the harness and use a six point socket. I've done three cars like this with no problems. I've got one of the special sockets but it scares me. Who wants a rounded off O2 sensor?

On the wagon, we're still running original sensors at 225k miles. Don't fix what ain't broke.

[sly]

I cut the harness and use a six point socket. I've done three cars like this with no problems. I've got one of the special sockets but it scares me. Who wants a rounded off O2 sensor?

On the wagon, we're still running original sensors at 225k miles. Don't fix what ain't broke.

passenger side of at least 92-95 vics/mgms would be difficult at best with this method due to the sheer lack of space between the top of the O2 sensor and the heater plenum. It was hard enough to get the O2 socket I have on it. I need one of the shorty O2 sockets for the 93 the next time I have to deal with that BS.

[gadget73]

this is all argument for a 302 with headers. The oxy sensors are below the headers, facing downward, where its absolute cake to access.

[miamibob]

Never did the sensors on my Dad's '93 but did all four on my '95 and it SUCKED ROYALLY!! Passenger side was especially rough and I had some wonderful, verbal "parting gifts" for anyone in earshot!! Bobby