2001 Tacoma X-Cab 4x4 manual O2 sensor

[mjosoba]

Hey guys, I couldn't find any threads on this which surprised me. If anyone knows of any I missed sorry about that, and a link would be much appreciated.

Anyhow, I am trying to replace the front O2 sensor and it's in about the most asinine place I can imagine. My hands are not that big and I can barely touch the connector on top of the tranny. It sits just forward of where the shifter linkage enters the cab. I can barely feel it, let alone get enough dexterity to maneuver my hand to disconnect it. Anyone have experience with replacing this? If so, how did u go about it? Thnx, Michael.

 

[srogers]

I haven't had to replace mine, but can you come at it from inside the cab? Remove the shift boot and replace from above?

 

[mjosoba]

That's what I'm trying now. Same story pretty much. Can just get my hand around it. But no more. May just try to pop the plastic tab that its mounted to. Horrible positioning.

 

[mjosoba]

Alright for anyone else having to go through this, I found the only way to do it (for me) was:

-Remove the shifter covers.
-Locate the mounting bracket for the O2 senso connector and remove the bolt holding it, but ONLY PARTIALLY, as this also helps hold the tranny together.
-Slide the mounting bracket along the bolt and pop the tab holding the O2 sensor connection off. Most likely rendering it useless.
-Detach the O2 sensor from the exhaust.
-Pull the harness into the cab enough to disconnect the old one and put the new connector together.
-Install the O2 sensor.
-Put shift components back.
-Nurse your bruised and most likely bleeding hands (those edges are sharp.)
-Enjoy some adult libations and curse those small handed Asians.
-Prepare to end up doing it again in a year.

 

[jynx]

-Prepare to end up doing it again in a year.

Must be a Bosch sensor....

In all seriousness, is this a V6 or 4cyl? I haven't even looked at the O2 sensor location on my new 4Runner, but if that is the placement then it is pretty ridiculous.

Just out of curiosity is there enough room to get the sensor out with the plug still attached? So to unbolt and remove, then unplug and reinstall in reverse order?

 

[mjosoba]

Forgot to mention it's a V6. The plug itself is located on top of the tranny and the only way I could reach it was to go through the shifter. And even if your hands are small, u need a flat blade screwdriver to disconnect the plug do I don't see how u can do it without going through the shifter short of dropping the tranny.

Oh! And the nuts on the O2 sensor are 1.25 pitch in case they round off.