The
O2 sensor is a critical component of a good running car. Always a
good rule of thumb to change them out about every 50k miles or so.
1994 through 1995 have 2 oxygen sensors and 1996 models have
4. The difference being '96 models went to OBD2 and
added 2 sensors after the catalytic converters. Typically on the
OBD2 cars you really only need to change the two in front of the cats.
I
don't profess to be a mechanic so don't nit-pick this to death. I
did this on my back in my driveway. For those of you who wear
glasses can attest there is never enough light and the focal length of my
progressive lenses are always mis-oriented when under the car. That
being said I used jack stands because my momma didn't raise no fool and
while I flew Medevac years ago I had the joy to see someone who didn't.
To
change the sensors a small assortment of hand tools are needed. I
used a 7/8 open end box wrench and a 3/8 drive O2 socket (It has a notch
for the wiring), a crescent wrench and a small flat blade
screwdriver. PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench to help loosen the
sensors. Anti-seize so you can get them out again 50k miles down the
road. Some aluminum heat tape if you want to redo the factory-style
cover over the connector.
The best price I found was Dal.
$39 ea. AutoZone wanted close to $50
ea.
(click on picture to enlarge........ "go back" to
review)
Driver-side with the PB Blaster soaking
in. Easy access and the O2 socket fit on it without any
drama. Undoing the bundle of heat shielding from around the
connector was the most difficult part.
(click on picture
to enlarge........ "go back" to review)
The connector deserves a minute. It
is a typical GM weather pack with an added bonus. To ensure
the two don't come apart GM used a short fat toothpick-like
item. After fiddling with it for 5 min trying to get it
disconnected and due to my impatience I just wedged a small
screwdriver in there and broke the top most tang off from the part
that was getting thrown away. Voila`, no harm done.
Passenger-side was a bastage. Very
limited access as it is wedged between the body and the exhaust
manifold. Holding my mouth just right and maneuvering a
7" crescent though a couple of 1/8" turns broke it loose
enough to unscrew by hand. The connector was almost as
difficult to get to. It was wedged up against the engine in a
spot that refused to be illuminated. I was fortunate that the
PB Blaster did a superb job because I didn't have much more than
just finger power to torque it loose.
(click on picture
to enlarge........ "go back" to review)
Installation
went smoothly. Here you can see the shiny new, passenger-side
O2 sensor.
Here are the old sensors. For all I
know they might have been the originals. With my car now over
102k miles (bought it with 91k) I figured it would be false economy
if I didn't change them.
Total time for the project about 1.5 hrs.
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