Replaced both Oxygen Sensors ...finally!

RescueU · 06-15-09, 08:26 AM

So, finally got the O2 sensors replaced yesterday.

A couple of very important lessons learned:

1) Without question.. unless your bung posts' threads are pristine, i highly recommend investing the $6 in a M8 - 1.25 Die and run it up and down your threads prior to installing new nuts. In my case, 3 of the 4 posts had rust totally encrusted in a good portion of the threads. Without running the die down thru them, I have no doubt that I'd have over torqued the post while trying to force the nut down and snapped the original posts. I've done this on other parts and now understand completely why.

Also, spray the bung posts with PB Blaster or Toyota's Rust Penetrating Spray first. Makes a huge difference.

2) In order to get at the front O2 sensor.... don't muck around and just remove the front tire. Makes a world of difference. I had to remove the front-most nut with a "back-out" socket (the reverse-threaded doohickey that cuts into stripped nuts to get a good grip). Saved me atleast an extra hour or so.

Question: Now that I've replaced both O2 Sensors.... should i pull power from the battery for a short period to reset the ECU, so the mixtures can be recalibrated?

Thanks!!

gotmud · 06-15-09, 09:14 AM

Resetting the ECU won't hurt anything. However, unless it was throwing a code before, I don't see any reason to.

RescueU · 06-15-09, 09:33 AM

She threw a few codes over the last few months. Each time, I cleared them via the OBD-II interface with a utility. Is that method as effective as a full ECU reset?

Just to be sure, what's the correct practice for the ECU reset? I'm sitting right now parked and idling, and fell the engine is a bit rough sitting @ about a hair above 600rpm.

LC80Ducati996 · 06-15-09, 10:21 AM

Another trick for rusted studs is to brush on naval jelly or rust converter. I do it a few times each time I let it sit a while then scrub it with a tooth brush shaped wire brush. The nuts always come off easy after this and it is easier to turn the die. I use clean up dies and taps whenever possible. I have a snap on thread cutting set of dies in SAE and metric as well but have found the clean up taps and dies to not take off as much material. On a 02 stud it may not matter too much but if you are chasing cylinder head bolt holes I would never use a cutting tap.

NLXTACY · 11-07-09, 04:53 PM

Well...just replaced both of O2 sensors and I gotta say, it was the easiest thing I think I have ever done maintenance wise on my truck. Each sensor takes a 12mm nut. Mine broke free effortlessly. No rust at all. The nuts spun freely. No need to remove the tire, its right there. Had the new ones on before my wife had my sandwich and drink ready.

PO172 is now gone!

Marc311 · 11-07-09, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLXTACY

Well...just replaced both of O2 sensors and I gotta say, it was the easiest thing I think I have ever done maintenance wise on my truck. Each sensor takes a 12mm nut. Mine broke free effortlessly. No rust at all. The nuts spun freely. No need to remove the tire, its right there. Had the new ones on before my wife had my sandwich and drink ready.

PO172 is now gone!

Yeah? Well I went to replace my rear O2 sensor today (the PO recently had the front done). One nut had completely rusted away and the second had transformed into a nondescript blob merged to the thread. So now instead of a quick weekend PM (and to rid a recurring PO420), I am pricing a whole new exhaust system.

Darn you Southwesterners with your dry air and moderate winters!!!!

(Oh, wait, I forgot I'm from California

)

NLXTACY · 11-07-09, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc311

Darn you Southwesterners with your dry air and moderate winters!!!

Marc311 · 11-07-09, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLXTACY

I hope El Nino comes, fuels a wildfire, and then an earthquake sends mud into your house and washes it into the Pacific

(And yet I would still rather live in California again. I'll tell you what, I'll swap you nasty humid summers for earthquakes and miserable winters for mudslides. Deal? I didn't think so)

pruboy · 11-07-09, 09:46 PM

Where did you buy the O2 sensors ? I bought my Lx on Wed. and drove it to the beach on Thursday (300 miles) as a shake down cruise. I had a check engine light that came on Friday night, checked the obvious and then got on here. I pulled the fuse on the EFI let it re-map itself and so far so good. When I get home I plan on doing the usual going over and will do an overall tune up. Plugs, wires, O2 sensors.. so I wondered if I should just go to the Lexus/Toyota dealer or if someone on here could steer me in the right direction. I have seen the Cdan name mentioned but didn't come up with anything when I searched for him.

kup99 · 11-07-09, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLXTACY

Well...just replaced both of O2 sensors and I gotta say, it was the easiest thing I think I have ever done maintenance wise on my truck. Each sensor takes a 12mm nut. Mine broke free effortlessly. No rust at all. The nuts spun freely. No need to remove the tire, its right there. Had the new ones on before my wife had my sandwich and drink ready.

PO172 is now gone!

Couldn't agree more... did mine yesterday while the wife was making the kids lunch... Told her I'd be in in 20 Min, and this time I actually was!! I was throwing P0130 and P0133 Hopefully gone now!! I just cleared the codes via obd2 scanner!!

NLXTACY · 11-07-09, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pruboy

Where did you buy the O2 sensors ? I bought my Lx on Wed. and drove it to the beach on Thursday (300 miles) as a shake down cruise. I had a check engine light that came on Friday night, checked the obvious and then got on here. I pulled the fuse on the EFI let it re-map itself and so far so good. When I get home I plan on doing the usual going over and will do an overall tune up. Plugs, wires, O2 sensors.. so I wondered if I should just go to the Lexus/Toyota dealer or if someone on here could steer me in the right direction. I have seen the Cdan name mentioned but didn't come up with anything when I searched for him.

Contact CDAN, search tells all

arndog123 · 11-08-09, 12:10 AM

gotmud (see post #2) is another source for OEM Toy parts and he ships for free.

easyG · 11-08-09, 11:45 AM

arndog is right gotmud got parts and he will hook u up. Send him a PM he is a good guy and a straight shooter, no worries buying from him. He deals in genuine Mr. T parts too and no shipping.

zombified · 11-08-09, 05:15 PM

i was going to do my o2 sensors this weekend after replacing my tierod, draglink and ends.

i got new sensors from dan, and they are totally different than what is on the truck. the nuts are different as are the sensors themselves. i could not for the life of me even get one of the old sensors nuts off. im half tempted to just drop it off someplace and let them deal with the headache.

crowdaddy911 · 11-08-09, 06:31 PM

i just ordered rear o2 sensor from cdan he is listed under american toyota. I beleive it was $120 for a $170 dollar rear o2 sensor.Cdan is the man. I did the front 3 months ago. I am expecting it tommorow. Good luck and just order them both and be done with it. So next month you can get a lift and new rubber.

NLXTACY · 11-08-09, 07:08 PM

BTW my front sensor was definitely bad but my rear sensor was definitely good. Its now a spare.

Lka1988 · 11-08-09, 08:04 PM

I gotta get new O2s soon, they throw codes every once in a while.

BTW, it's "CruiserDan", CDan for short.

pruboy · 11-08-09, 09:03 PM

[QUOTE=crowdaddy911;4949576]i just ordered rear o2 sensor from cdan he is listed under american toyota. I beleive it was $120 for a $170 dollar rear o2 sensor.Cdan is the man. I did the front 3 months ago. I am expecting it tommorow. Good luck and just order them both and be done with it. So next month you can get a lift and new rubber.

You are a mind reader. Maintenance this month and lift, tires, and bumpers in the next couple of months. Truck ran great, put 850 miles on it since I bought it on 11/4/09. Going to replace O2 sensors , plugs, wires, and belts. PO was pretty good about the fluids. I think the PB Blaster is what I will try first to help loosen things up.

crowdaddy911 · 11-09-09, 01:26 PM

sweet good luck. This site is brutal. I find myself on here in waves. Some weeks 3x aday then I will take a break and play online poker and skip a month. Right now I am on here fopr the 3rd time today its awsome baby.......

Beowulf · 11-09-09, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pruboy

... so I wondered if I should just go to the Lexus/Toyota dealer or if someone on here could steer me in the right direction.

Before you start buying and replacing parts you should post up your OBD-II code. Chances are, you don't need O2 sensors but nobody knows until you tell us what code ya got.

-B-