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How to unscrew an impossibly tight oxygen sensor from a car?!

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You are turning it in the correct direction, right?

-PAB

EDIT: HC needs to add a tagline to her sig.

"If what I thought happened in reality... I think 293 million people would commit mass suicide. We'd all be driving golf carts. I'd be president. There'd be a TV network that would broadcast mind bending propaganda 24/7. Naturally it would be titled 'All AT: All the time.' With a weekly Osbournes spoof titled 'The Skoorbs.' Next Episode: Shmabbles and the Maxima oil filter. Hilarity and Canadian cursing ensue. " - PAB
 
Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
You are turning it in the correct direction, right?

-PAB

EDIT: HC needs to add a tagline to her sig.

"If what I thought happened in reality... I think 293 million people would commit mass suicide. We'd all be driving golf carts. I'd be president. There'd be a TV network that would broadcast mind bending propaganda 24/7. Naturally it would be titled 'All AT: All the time.' With a weekly Osbournes spoof titled 'The Skoorbs.' Next Episode: Shmabbles and the Maxima oil filter. Hilarity and Canadian cursing ensue. " - PAB
Click to expand...

Bwahhhhhhh 😀

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
So this is on the 2000 Maxima you just got? That's a pain in the ass. Have you tried resetting the ECU computer and seeing if the check engine light comes back on? It may not actually be a bad sensor. That 02 sensor code can sometimes be set off by bad gas. You may have a bad cat as well, if your cold side 02 sensor is bad.
 
Originally posted by: justint
So this is on the 2000 Maxima you just got? That's a pain in the ass. Have you tried resetting the ECU computer and seeing if the check engine light comes back on? It may not actually be a bad sensor. That 02 sensor code can sometimes be set off by bad gas. You may have a bad cat as well, if your cold side 02 sensor is bad.
Click to expand...
You're right - sometimes that will fix it. I did reset the ECU by unplugging the battery (apparently it's better if you use a scanner though), and after about 250 miles the problem came back.
Did the front O2 sensor come off okay?
Click to expand...
Never tried to remove it; this is the only problem. I just got the codes pulled again - same two codes related to this sensor - high voltage, and slow circuit.
 
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Hmm, if you have 2 O2 sensors I would normally replace both at the same time.
Click to expand...
I have three total, but if I go doing that I might as well take the rest of the year off to find the time to get them off 😉 I do hear that the front ones are easier though.

 
if it's a 2000 then you prolly just have a defective one then was all..

so you have 2 on the hot side and 1 after your CAT?

Bank 1 sensor 2 is what your error code is?
 
Originally posted by: LAUST
if it's a 2000 then you prolly just have a defective one then was all..

so you have 2 on the hot side and 1 after your CAT?

Bank 1 sensor 2 is what your error code is?
Click to expand...
Yep if hot is the same as upstream and cold is the downstream. This particular one is Bank 1 Sensor 2, then the vehicle has the two upstream sensors right by the engine...

 
So why are you sitting on your ASS posting and NOT getting the damn thing OUT!!!??? 😉

I wanna hear "YEAH I got it sitting here in my hot little hand!"

GO DO IT!
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: LAUST
if it's a 2000 then you prolly just have a defective one then was all..

so you have 2 on the hot side and 1 after your CAT?

Bank 1 sensor 2 is what your error code is?
Click to expand...
Yep if hot is the same as upstream and cold is the downstream. This particular one is Bank 1 Sensor 2, then the vehicle has the two upstream sensors right by the engine...
Click to expand...
Cool, sounds like you got it under control 😉

Strange on the Nissan system it can trigger a rich condition, on mine when I pull my downstream O2's to put in Widebands to monitor my A/F Ratio I remain STOIC I just get my MIL light though.
 
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
So why are you sitting on your ASS posting and NOT getting the damn thing OUT!!!??? 😉

I wanna hear "YEAH I got it sitting here in my hot little hand!"

GO DO IT!
Click to expand...
I'm at work!
 
Strange on the Nissan system it can trigger a rich condition, on mine when I pull my downstream O2's to put in Widebands to monitor my A/F Ratio I remain STOIC I just get my MIL light though.
Click to expand...
Strange indeed - in fact haynes says, as you said, that only the two upstream are read by the PCM when it decides the fuel/air mixture. Still, there must be something to this one in the matter of gas usage, cause I'm telling you over the last 200 miles the mileage has dropped down to high teens from mid 20's or so.

 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Brutuskend
So why are you sitting on your ASS posting and NOT getting the damn thing OUT!!!??? 😉

I wanna hear "YEAH I got it sitting here in my hot little hand!"

GO DO IT!
Click to expand...
I'm at work!
Click to expand...

AHH well I guess your off the hook then........for NOW!
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Ooo, where is a good place to get a cheapo propane torch? Homedepot and Lowes online don't seem to have em...
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Oh they do. All the way up to a dual miniature oxyacetylene (really oxygen and MAPP gas) welding kit for $40-50 if you wanted. They also sell oxygen torches, and of course, propane ones. If you just want a single tank solution, I'd go with the MAPP over propane, as it produces much better results than propane. Of course if you want to melt the damn thing off, just get the oxyMAPP kits that they sell 😀
These are sold at Home Depot and Lowes
 
Hey Everyone? Keep us Skoorbs in your thoughts tonight...we are going to need them to make sure that Skoorb doesn't decide to play with the torch and burn the place down!

Then again, pray he gets the o2 sensor off too! I know you can Skoorbie-baby!

Edit: Better Ohtwell? 😉
 
Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb
Hey Everyone? Keep us Skoorbs in your thoughts tonight...we are going to need them to make sure that Skoorb doesn't decide to play with the torch and burn the place down!

Then again, pray he gets the o2 sensor off too! I know you can Skoorbie-baby!

Edit: Better Ohtwell? 😉
Click to expand...

Hehehehe!! Yep!


: ) Amanda
 
I think the torch method is extreme. True, it may work, but I think it can be done by other means... This is the opinion of a Tennessee guy that like to play with power tools and torches as much as the next guy, but tapping the sensor with a hammer and then using a 6 point socket and a breaker bar has always worked for me on this job.

The other trick, btw, is to use a socket and breaker bar.....then put a metal pipe around the handle of the breaker bar. Once you do that, you get more leverage and you can hit the pipe with a hammer to get it free... That method has worked wonders for me with replacing O2 sensors, Harmonic balancers, timing chains, water pumps, etc... 😀
 
You've gotten some good advice--put it all together and add some dry ice:

1. get the tools out that you'll use, and put in place making sure you have room to swing a hammer if you're using one (an impact wrench would be best, tho).
Now put tools aside but where you can get them quickly.
2.If you can start the car, let it heat up. Why? Cuz the exhaust manifold has a lot of mass and if you only applied heat from a torch, it will take longer to heat it up the whole manifold, and it's not good to only heat it from one spot. So heat it up by running the engine, then torch around sensor area hard with the torch.
3.Put the dry ice (which you got from the grocery store) on the sensor metal. You want cold sensor/hot manifold.
4.Apply tools quickly, and do it. Remember, sharp hits are better than slow twisting.

If all else fails, get a chisel (IF you can get it into position--but I doubt it) and use it perpendicular to the axis of the sensor, on the lands where a socket would contact. What you're doing is hitting it in the counter-clockwise direction, as if you're trying to cut the corners off the lands. This works surprisingly well, but *only if* you can get access.

Good luck.

(show us a picture of the little beast when you get it out--we'll have a ceremony).
 
Originally posted by: MrsSkoorb
Hey Everyone? Keep us Skoorbs in your thoughts tonight...we are going to need them to make sure that Skoorb doesn't decide to play with the torch and burn the place down!

Then again, pray he gets the o2 sensor off too! I know you can Skoorbie-baby!

Edit: Better Ohtwell? 😉
Click to expand...

Good luck with the O2 replacement 😀

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
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