Car Gurus: Is it simple to install an 02 sensor?

[pyonir]

My roommates O2 sensor is bad (he had a mechanic check it out) and he was thinking of doing it himself if it is possible?

he has a 95 Dodge Neon.

any idea?

 

[Electric Amish]

The hardest part is getting to the location.

AFAIK, they just screw in/out.

amish

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
The hardest part is getting to the location.

AFAIK, they just screw in/out.

amish

any idea where it is? or websites off hand that can help?

Thanks

 

[aphex]

Whats an o2 sensor do? (Short of the obvious)

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
The hardest part is getting to the location.

AFAIK, they just screw in/out.

amish

any idea where it is? or websites off hand that can help?

Thanks

You'll probably have to get a manual, but they are usually located on the exhaust headers.

amish

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: aphexII
Whats an o2 sensor do? (Short of the obvious)

It monitors the amount of O2 in the exhaust of the vehicle to allow the computer to adjust the Fuel/air mixture. (I think)

amish

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: aphexII
Whats an o2 sensor do? (Short of the obvious)

It monitors the amount of O2 in the exhaust of the vehicle to allow the computer to adjust the Fuel/air mixture. (I think)

amish

Ahh ok, cool.. Makes sence i guess...

 

[iamwiz82]

is it upstream or downstream?

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
The hardest part is getting to the location.

AFAIK, they just screw in/out.

amish

any idea where it is? or websites off hand that can help?

Thanks

You'll probably have to get a manual, but they are usually located on the exhaust headers.

amish

yeah, it looks like i would have to get a service manual. nothing free online. damn. Well, Thanks for the info Amish!

 

[notfred]

The O2 sensor (or sensors) screw into the exhaust pipe jsut in front of the catalytic converter. Replacing one is simply a matter of unplugging the wring harness and unscrewing the old sensor, screwing the new senor into place, and clipping the harness back on. As long as you can get underneath the car, the whole process takes about 5 minutes.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
is it upstream or downstream?

i have no idea. don't have the owners manual in front of me. and i don't really know that much about his car.

 

[DietDrThunder]

Go to Autozone. They'll show you where it is, sell you the part for a reasonable price, and then they will lend you to tool to remove/install it. It isn't hard at all to change if you have the right tool.

 

[iamwiz82]

the only tool you need is a 22mm wrench. I believe the 1995's were in the same spot as 1996, but i am not sure. Mine was right below the stock airbox. Just remove that, and you should see it. It is attached near the head, IIRC. It has been awhile, though.

check here for more help.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: notfred
The O2 sensor (or sensors) screw into the exhaust pipe jsut in front of the catalytic converter. Replacing one is simply a matter of unplugging the wring harness and unscrewing the old sensor, screwing the new senor into place, and clipping the harness back on. As long as you can get underneath the car, the whole process takes about 5 minutes.

which is why they wanted to charge him $30 in labor. figures.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: notfred
The O2 sensor (or sensors) screw into the exhaust pipe jsut in front of the catalytic converter. Replacing one is simply a matter of unplugging the wring harness and unscrewing the old sensor, screwing the new senor into place, and clipping the harness back on. As long as you can get underneath the car, the whole process takes about 5 minutes.

which is why they wanted to charge him $30 in labor. figures.

I got gouged for $400 to do them on My '94 Probe. :|

That's what I get for not doing the research. I thought it was more invasive than just changing out a part.

amish

 

[iamwiz82]

here is a pic of where it is

it is near the A in airbox, at least in my 1996, it was.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
here is a pic of where it is

it is near the A in airbox, at least in my 1996, it was.

oh wow...so it isn't even underneath on the Neons. probably a lot easier then!

 

[FlashG]

They are located on the exhaust pipe between the Cylinder Head and the Catalytic Converter. Some cars have them located directly under the exhaust shield and others are under the car on the header tubes just before the converter. All of them have a wire that goes from the screw in sensor (on the exhaust) to the emission control unit (a computer) usually located in the engine compartment near the firewall.

Make sure that you use safety stands and wheel chocks if you cant get access to a hoist.

Good luck

 

[lRageATMl]

it does make a difference if it is upstream or downstream. there different part numbers. And they aren;t on the headers (most cars don;t even have headers, they have exhuast mainfolds unless modified otherwise), they are on the pipe in between the exhuast mainfold and mufflers (catback). It should be real easy, but if it's upstream it might be a major PIA to replace cause space is limited (at least it is in my car). Your gonn ahave to lift teh front of the car to get under it. good luck....last tip, let your car cool down, in fact if you have time leave your car overnight and no it in the morning ... exhuats gets hot and tranny (near exhuast) gets extremely hot.

**All I said is what is on my car ... it might be complety differnet then yours.

 

[pyonir]

hmmm Thanks for all the help guys. if it is under the car, i might have a problem because we don't have a jack (other than spare tire jacks and i'm not dumb enough to use those). i'll have to do a little more investigating, but if iamwiz had it under the hood on his 96, i can't imagine the 95 is much different.


Again, Thanks for all the suggestions and help!

 

[Beau]

I had to replace one on my 88 Isuzu Imark. Easy as pie, except the fvcker was fused to the exhaust manifold, so it took a little working to get out. Just like a sparkplug though.

 

[iamwiz82]

actually on a neon, it is on the header.

 

[iamwiz82]

pyonir, it's on top of the header, look for this

the one you work on wont be chrome, of course. That is a mopar header.

 

[FlashG]

Point of information

Exhaust Header is a common term often used interchangibley for the Exhaust Manifold, Exhaust Pipe or any combination there of between the Head and Converter. Anything downstream of that is (now) called part of the Cat Back system (Mufflers, Resonators and Tail Pipes).

 

[BlackOmen]

I've seen them in several places. A lot of GM's I've seen have them right where the exhaust manifold meets at the collector. I've seen Honda do the same thing. Ford seems to think it's a good idea to put them before the catalytic converter. I've see Chrysler minivans put them after the converter. A Haynes or Chiltons manual will tell you where it is. Once you've found it, it does not take long. And if you have a set of crows feet, it always helps to torque it to spec, otherwise make it tight, but not too tight ........