replacing the o2 exhaust sensors (1 Viewer)

[1991LandCruiser]

Hi,

Just got a quote from local garage to install (not obtain) the two o2 sensors in the Exhaust. My question is is $90 a fair price to do the job what they quoted me?


Thanks!

 

[CJF]

It's a 5-minute job *if* the nuts aren't severly rusted.

 

[scottryana]

Depends on the level of rust on your truck. If it is rust free it is a 15 minute job you can do in your driveway. If it is rusty, $90 is fair if they have to deal with getting out a torch and heating up the nuts etc.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Depends on the difficulty of extraction. If the nuts look like meteorites like mine did, $90 is a steal and you should get it in writing.

I paid for 1.5 hours of labor for just one of them. And the mechanic was no slacker or n00b either - one of the best around.

 

[1991LandCruiser]

Thanks guys,

I will have a look tomorrow, I am guessing the Sensors have not been been changed before by the previous 2 owners, so am fearing the worst as the vehicle is 21years old. How high does the vehicle (if it does) have to be raised to do the job? The only thing I can get hold of is two jacks from a neighbor who knows more about cars than I do, although have not yet asked him for help.
As you can probably gather I am not very mechanically minded, and have never worked on any aspect of a vehicle.
Thanks for your replies.

 

[Delancy]

As you can probably gather I am not very mechanically minded, and have never worked on any aspect of a vehicle.

Pay the $90, then.

It's guaranteed to be a rusty, knuckle busting, socket ruining stud extraction and it'd be a shame to spoil the joys of wrenching on your Cruiser with this.

You'll probably need new studs, nuts, and gaskets, too.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

you didn't say what year, but on 93/94 you can lie down on the ground next to the passenger side front door and the #1 o2 sensor is right there.

The first nut is the easy one.

I didn't need new studs, the factory kit comes with nuts and gaskets.

Find out what o2 sensors they are installing. Bosch have a bad reputation here. original toyota or Denso are preferred. Some people say their NGK work fine.

On my rig, the 1st nut - outside on #1 - came off with some penetrating oil and small pipe wrench.

The 2nd one - inside on #1 - came off after i removed heat shields to get to it and then spent hours cursing it. Ultimately i cut a notch in it with my dremel and then wailed on it with a chisel and 2.5lb sledge until it came loose. A lot of penetrating oil and occasional heat from a torch was part of the prelude to that.

The mechanic i gave it to for the #2 sensor said it took 1.5hrs of "swearing at it and shaking big sticks at it".

 

[1991LandCruiser]

Dropped the Land Cruiser off at the garage today. One Sensor came out quite easily and the new one fitted, the other Sensor is another story and is rooted firmly and is refusing to budge, they try and get the other Sensor out on Monday without it snapping off.
I am glad I did not try and attempt to do this job myself.

 

[1991LandCruiser]

Had the 02 Sensors replaced.
Took it up the Interstate for a trip and on filling it up I got 17mpg, is that about right for the
Land Cruiser?

 

[jwilber]

17mpg on a 3fe I think you figured something wrong on good day I would think you might get 12 to 13

 

[Berkeley91FJ80]

re mileage: I get 16-17 mpg on a long highway trip. 9-11 mpg otherwise.

re 02 sensors: exactly same situation a few months back on my '91 - one sensor swapped easily, on the other the nuts were rust-fused onto the studs. Days of PB blaster and several heatings with a torch made no difference. I ended up slicing sideways through those nuts with a dremel disc, just to the point of touching the stud, then placing the blade of a screwdriver in the resulting slit and tapping until the nut opened up and separated from the stud. Pretty surgical and fussy, but it worked great.

 

[Bendcruiser]

I had mine changed on my 91, while I was watching. I say pay the $90 it was a pain getting them out.