0xfded
New member
A tip for anyone doing this. No pictures, but some text that will come up in search terms the next time someone searches for this.
The front O2 sensor is the one between the catalytic converter and the engine. The sensor is easy to get at, but the plug into the wiring harness is a pain in the ass:
1) It is held into the wiring harness by a clip.
2) It is inconveniently positioned on top of the transmission (at least on a manual, but I believe autos are the same.)
Tip for removing the front O2 sensor on a manual transmission:
1) Check the bolts on the sensor. If you can break them, stop there and continue. No point pulling the sensor if the plug ends up being a problem for you. Likewise, no sense screwing with the plug if you can't get the sensor off. 12mm bolts, a box head wrench worked fine for me despite some rust.
2) Go from the interior. Pulling off the shift boots takes 5 minutes: unscrew shifter knobs, pull the trim, remove four screws holding the plate and rubber boots. The connector is just forward of the hole.
3) The wire harness is held into a bracket on the transmission with a little grey plastic clip, on the passenger side. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to pinch that and pop it off. Now you can turn the plug around and it's easy to pop the clip off and unplug the sensor.
4) If you need slack, now you can unbolt the sensor from the exhaust.
After an hour of getting filthy hugging the tranny and trying to unclip the plug blind, this way took 15 minutes. It might apply to an auto, but I don't know what pulling off the shifter looks like there. YMMV.
The front O2 sensor is the one between the catalytic converter and the engine. The sensor is easy to get at, but the plug into the wiring harness is a pain in the ass:
1) It is held into the wiring harness by a clip.
2) It is inconveniently positioned on top of the transmission (at least on a manual, but I believe autos are the same.)
Tip for removing the front O2 sensor on a manual transmission:
1) Check the bolts on the sensor. If you can break them, stop there and continue. No point pulling the sensor if the plug ends up being a problem for you. Likewise, no sense screwing with the plug if you can't get the sensor off. 12mm bolts, a box head wrench worked fine for me despite some rust.
2) Go from the interior. Pulling off the shift boots takes 5 minutes: unscrew shifter knobs, pull the trim, remove four screws holding the plate and rubber boots. The connector is just forward of the hole.
3) The wire harness is held into a bracket on the transmission with a little grey plastic clip, on the passenger side. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to pinch that and pop it off. Now you can turn the plug around and it's easy to pop the clip off and unplug the sensor.
4) If you need slack, now you can unbolt the sensor from the exhaust.
After an hour of getting filthy hugging the tranny and trying to unclip the plug blind, this way took 15 minutes. It might apply to an auto, but I don't know what pulling off the shifter looks like there. YMMV.
