Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Bank 1 O2 Sensor 1... WHATS THE TRICK??

96 2.5L 5 speed manual SE. Trying to replace the upstream O2 sensor back up behind the engine and firewall. Removed the coil pack. The Air cond. lines and a wire harness assembly make it very very tight back there.

From the top I can barely get the o2 socket on the sensor. The socket is so tall I can't get a 3/8" universal on the socket cause it's up against the firewall. A 3/8" 180 degree braker bar would fit but no room to maneuver.

From underneath I removed a 4"x4" right angle brace with three bolts. This enabled me to reach up and get better access to the sensor with my hand, but still no room to maneuver a tool.

My next attempt might be with a 7/8" crow foot from underneath. Or, have one person on top turning a braker bar 60 degrees, while a person underneath reaches up and turns the socket on the sensor each time.

What methods, tricks, tools, prayers, have you guys used to replace this sensor???????

It is not that hard,
I used a 7/8" open end wrench, just removed the coil pack, then the harness under it, well just the bolts of this harness, and then reached the sensor using the normal wrench between in the space between the harness and where it was located, just used a li'l wd-40 and let it rest for 15 min. then it was easier to remove,

hope this helps,
RMR

That wire harness is encased in a 1" square plastic case 12" across the back. Bundle is so stiff, that even removing the 2 nuts that hold it down, it would barely budge. Yeah, if I could lift that up two inches, can't, the job would be ALOT easier.

Most members use the method you're trying from above, with universal and extension. Why not try the crowsfoot from above?

Try this, it helped me.

Clicky

YES!!!

Thats exactly what I need ... a SHORT Oxygen Sensor tool with a flex head wrench. With that combo I can imagine it being a fairly easy job. My wireharness/bundle cannot be lifted like the SVT version. I had the larger O2 sensor socket the size of a sparkplug socket which is too large.

Thanks!

Go to Advanced auto or Autozone they should have a 02 sensor tool they can loan you with a small deposit .. thats what I did and the sensors both came out with ease.

I bought the O2 (large)sensor socket from Autozone over the weekend, and it did not work well. Autozone, Advanced Auto parts, and Checker Auto, do not have the Short O2 socket, only the tall one. Looking at Sears tomorrow. thanks.

did you try getting the loaner set from autozone? i just used the main socket but I have a zetec. It had some little socket things that you use differently, and the ratchet sorta goes into them differently, i don't know how to explain it. It's worth a try if you haven't tried it yet and you get your deposit back when you're done.