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

  • Thread starter Thread starter StangLover159
  • Start date Start date Jul 2, 2005
S

StangLover159

New Member
Apr 10, 2004
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Jul 2, 2005
#1
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #1
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?
 
8

8950HO

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
658
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Jul 2, 2005
#2
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #2
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

Founding Member
Jan 11, 2002
2,224
8
49
East ARKANSAS Delta
Jul 2, 2005
#3
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #3
Yep I remeber getting quite the workout while swapping mine.
 

vikingpower

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
656
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CWU Ellensburg, WA
Jul 2, 2005
#4
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #4
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.
 
D

Deleted member 87397

Jul 2, 2005
#5
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #5
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.
 
E

emagdnim

Active Member
Feb 5, 2003
391
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28
Jul 2, 2005
#6
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #6
I had to cut mine off with a hacksaw lol
 

LT1Killa

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Oct 16, 2003
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Jul 2, 2005
#7
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #7
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

Banned
Apr 15, 2004
1,009
0
0
Fairfield, PA
Jul 2, 2005
#8
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #8
a 21/22mm (can't remember which one) closed end wrench and a heavy dose of wd-40 could help you guys out
 
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slow93

New Member
May 3, 2005
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Jul 2, 2005
#9
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #9
get a bigger hammer!!!!!!
 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Jul 2, 2005
#10
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #10
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.
 
8

8950HO

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
658
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0
Jul 2, 2005
#11
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #11
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

New Member
Apr 19, 2005
412
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Utah
Jul 2, 2005
#12
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #12
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

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Jul 2, 2005
#13
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #13
8950HO said:
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.
Click to expand...

Cheap socket = rounded off nut hmm, is there a connection there? I think so. Two words: Snap-on!!!
 
8

8950HO

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
658
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Jul 2, 2005
#14
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #14
90mustangGT said:
Cheap socket = rounded off nut hmm, is there a connection there? I think so. Two words: Snap-on!!!
Click to expand...

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

I have nothing productive to add!
Jul 3, 2001
10,262
1
0
Mill Creek, WA
Jul 2, 2005
#15
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #15
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

New Member
Apr 4, 2005
27
0
0
Jul 2, 2005
#16
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #16
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

Founding Member
Jan 12, 2000
3,316
63
109
Ocean Springs MS
Jul 2, 2005
#17
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #17
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

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Jul 2, 2005
#18
  • Jul 2, 2005
  • #18
rd said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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