Confused on O2 Sensor Replacement

[OGBeno]

Also bought thermostat and fuel filter and may elect to postpone those due to excessive labor required. I have a Toy master mechanic that I know so may take it in for him to do. I'll look at the fuel filter anyway to see how difficult it is. I have read up on many posts regarding that issue. Finally--#6 spark plug replacement will be a plug and pray situation. I will definitely take my time on that one.

Dave

Dave--

None of these are really as hard as you are making them out.

IF this is your first time doing them, they might seem difficult, but much of it is figuring out in what order to do things, how to replace things and making sure you are within specs. and the like.

The #6 plug is not that bad. Just make sure you have a good angle of attack on it. My suggestions--you need a 10" entension, and use the 5/8" spark plug socket and duck tape it to the extension. That way you won't try to pull out the plug and have the socket come off inside. Also, you can either pull away the heater hose that is above it, or you can easily just take the bolt that holds the heater hose braket off of the firewall and pull the plug, put new one in, and put the heater hose back on the firewall.

RE: fuel filter: again, not really that bad--you just need to contort your arms a bit to get at it as it is under neath the intake manifolds. You'll see it once you get in there. my suggestion is to lift that side of the vehicle up from the axle, take the wheel off, and you'll have a nice straight shot at it. Pop off the gas cap and have a go at it.

This stuff really isn't rocket science. I'm a horrible wrencher, but I have yet to have anyone do anything on my vehicle except myself and I've done a ton of work on my rig.

Good luck and if you need help, come back on the forum and post up. We'll help you along.

Best.
-onur
Oberlin, OH

 

[Bat Masterson]

02 Sensors Done. It took 6 hours!

Well--I was hoping the 02 Sensor replacement would be easier and faster than 6 hours but unfortunately not.

Front Sensor: I had to remove the front bracket to the running board to improve clearance and access to the bolts. Used PB Blaster before I started. I tried the Bolt Out on both bolts but it really did not help much and switched sizes back and forth with not much success. The front nut came off after using a dremel tool, cold chisel, and vice grips. This took about 1 hour. The rear nut took about 45 minutes and used the cold chisel and vice grips with constant squirts of PB Blaster. I cannot believe it but both studs were absolutely unharmed! Very relieved that I did'nt break off a stud or damage the threads.

Rear Sensor: The heat shield is a royal PIA. I was basically blind while trying to use the Bolt Out sockets and vice grips. I was able to get the inside nut off after an hour or so. The outside nut took about 2 hours after trying all of the above and whacking it with a cold chisel numerous times. I guess it would have also been easier to have worked under the vehicle on jack stands but don't have any yet so I had to shimmy underneath with just stock clearance. I am now very intimate with the underside of my rig. Not too much rust...standard for 10 years I suppose.

I reinstalled both sensors with gaskets and inspected the female wiring...all in good shape. Reinstalled the running board bracket and reattached the ground terminal to the battery.

Just got back from a test drive. It does appear to be a little peppier and noticed it seems to idle smoother. To add insult to injury, I got stopped twice at a police check point (to and from the store) and received a summons for no county sticker on the return trip--ouch!

That's all I can take for this day--I know it sounds nuts but I actually enjoyed all of this hassle today. It's my first major wrenching with the LC and look forward to tommorow's tuneup.

Beno--thanks for the advice.

Dave