O2 sensor...can't get it out!

[StangLover159]

How the hell are you spose to get the left O2 sensor out?? Is there a wench for it? There's no way I'm gonna be able to get it with a wrench cuz i can barely get my hand in, i tried ot get it from below, but that didnt work either I having a surging idle, and the right O2 sensor had been replaced so we wanna try this one, any tips?

 

[8950HO]

There are special sockets for O2 sensors.They look like a spark plug socket with a open groove on the side to pass the wire through.
Or you could use a 7/8" 60 degree offset wrench.

Just a warning.These sensors can be a PITA to remove sometimes because they seize in place and may require heating with a torch to remove.
Put some anti-seize on the threads of the new ones.

 

[The Shape]

Yep I remeber getting quite the workout while swapping mine.

 

[vikingpower]

I used a really big crescent wrench to get mine off, then put on some Bosch replacements. They were a little pricey ($150) but work pretty damn good.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

I actually had a wrench big enough to take mine off without using the socket. I have the socket too, but didn't need it. Mine came out fairly easy when I changed them. Usually when you buy new ones they will come with antiseize on them already, but some don't I guess. Anti-seize is always the way to go though when installing the new ones.

 

[emagdnim]

I had to cut mine off with a hacksaw lol

 

[LT1Killa]

I'm in the process of putting new ones in my 89 right now. I came in the house fed up and needed a break, so here I am on stangnet.

I just bought the special socket, but it just rounds it off. I can't get a crescent wrench on the passenger side. And a pipe wrench tears it all to crap and bottoms out as soon as it gets tension. Hopefully I can get them swapped today to make it to the cruise in tonight. Probably not though, progress is slooooooooow.

 

[cjman15]

a 21/22mm (can't remember which one) closed end wrench and a heavy dose of wd-40 could help you guys out

 

[slow93]

get a bigger hammer!!!!!!

 

[90mustangGT]

Yes there is a Oxygen Sensor Socket just for O2's. A crows foot or a short 7/8ths or 22mm wrench should work.

Soak it in PB Blast and if all else fails, heat it up with a torch.

 

[8950HO]

Yeah,sometimes the O2 sockets will round off,I had a cheap one do this once.
Could probably happen to a good one to,if the sensor is really seized.

You can get a lot of leverage with a standard length 60 degree deep offset wrench 3/4"-7/8",if it has not been chewed up already and the O2 socket just rounds off.

 

[TomCat]

I struggled with mine for hours and then just decided to bring it down to a local tire shop. They used an impact gun ( I told them at this point I didn't care whether or not they broke them ) Both came off fine, and they only charged me 5 bucks.

 

[90mustangGT]

Yeah,sometimes the O2 sockets will round off,I had a cheap one do this once.
Could probably happen to a good one to,if the sensor is really seized.

You can get a lot of leverage with a standard length 60 degree deep offset wrench 3/4"-7/8",if it has not been chewed up already and the O2 socket just rounds off.

Cheap socket = rounded off nut hmm, is there a connection there? I think so. Two words: Snap-on!!!

 

[8950HO]

Cheap socket = rounded off nut hmm, is there a connection there? I think so. Two words: Snap-on!!!

The cheap one I mentioned,( was made in Taiwan...yeah , I know better now ),had a huge cut out section on the side compared to the better ones.It didn`t round off/damage the nut section on the O2 sensor but instead would expand and jump to the next position.

I have one from Lisle Tools which seems much stronger,but like I said,if it`s really seized,I don`t know if even a Snap-on O2 socket is up to the job without it possibly expanding and skipping to the next position.

 

[89MustangGX]

Sometimes there just doesn't seem to be a way to get them out without damaging them.

With that in mind, you might need to drop the h-pipe to really get good levelrage and access with a torch on them.

 

[sidl3000]

mine was a bitch to get off too, but I heated it with a torch for like 5 mins no joke and it came off slowly but surely with a big cresent wrench

 

[rd]

Someone told me to remove them while the exhaust was still hot. I have done a couple of Explorer ones and it seemed to work. I did use the socket for one, and was able to get a box wrench on the other.

 

[90mustangGT]

Someone told me to remove them while the exhaust was still hot. I have done a couple of Explorer ones and it seemed to work. I did use the socket for one, and was able to get a box wrench on the other.

That might help, if you don't burn yourself on the cat trying.

Lisle is a good name. My snap-on deler carries Lisle, and they sell it as sears. As far as things like sockets and wrenches go, I went snap-on all the way because of the expansion and slipping, along with the blood and busted knuckles that go along with that. I guess that's why I pay a $300 ($75 per week actually) tool payment per month. No wonder my car is down for the past year, huh.