Our Community is 940,000 Strong. Join Us.


O2 Sensor / Exhaust System


bgmoss28
05-27-2005, 12:08 AM
I feel kind of stupid asking this question, but I think I have a bad O2 sensor. My milage is awful, even for a Jeep (I6 4.0), and I don't seem to have the power I think I should. That being said, the car does have 115k on it. So, I got a new O2 sensor (not cheap). Took me a few minutes to find the old one on the car, but once I did, I realized that it's pretty much rusted in place. I went at it with some WD-40 and Liquid Wrench several times, but the thing won't budge. I'm afraid of snapping it or something. Because it's on the underside, I can't really put any more force into it. The other problem is that it's in an awkward position, and there's not much room for tools under there. I don't want to take it in for a simple O2 sensor replacement. My feeling is that I need some sort of penetrating oil besides the Liquid Wrench, but I don't know what to use. The other thing is that my muffler and cat are both pretty much rusted through, as I discovered while trying to get the O2 sensor out. I've wanted to put in a new exhaust system, and this may be the time to do it. Only problem is that I've got a rather severly limited budget. So, if I do replace the whole system, should I bother with the O2 sensor now? Also, I was thinking a Flowmaster system. I can't have anything too loud, but I'd like a bit more of a deep sound to it instead of the raspy wind I've got now. Budget aside, I think it would look cool to have a chromed dual exhaust coming out of the back end. Is it possible to do that with an I6?

collinb
05-27-2005, 02:22 PM
What I have found works the best for getting stuck O2 sensors loose(and they all seem to be stuck!) is beating on it with a hammer or other such object while wrenching on it with some vice grips that fit around the sensor. The hammering force will break the rust bond enough to thread it out, often by hand! Granted the old sensor is destroyed, but you are replacing it anyway right? The vice grips will help you work it loose as well if it does not thread out easily, and they work much better than the special O2 sockets at the parts stores. Those are not too great at breaking loose sensors, they usually end up rounding off the sensor more than anything. They are more useful for tightening up the new sensor. If I remember the 4.0 O2 sensor is not really that hard to get to as those sensors go. I used a dowel and hammer to break mine loose with the above described procedure.

Add your comment to this topic!