The way NOT to remove an O2 sensor

[Rottweiler28]

Well I went and did it this time I think, or maybe not, I'll let you guys decide.
Was having quite a bit of trouble removing an O2 sensor from the van so I got the bright idea (hey I don't need this one anyway since its shot) so I decided, since I didn't have the O2 tool or a deep 22mm socket to just cut the wires off the old one and snap the top part off the sensor itself so as to make a short 22mm socket fit it. Sounds ok so far eh. Then I thought if I remove the coil this will give me that little bit more room to move. At this point i'm thinking man i'm smart. And it did actually help quite well doing it this way. I did eventually get the sensor off (To my surprise) Using a breaker bar. When I got it out I used one of them air cans you use to blow out your computer to clean up around the area and to clean any lose metal from the sensor socket. (I just kept getting smarter.lol)
Now when I go to put in the new sensor, it seems like it wont take thread, and when it does seem to take thread it seems to be cross threading. Now I need some input from people who have changed some tough O2 sensors. Should it feel this way and I just need to throw a wrench on it and tighten it in there? I was told also that it wouldn't hurt to use a tap and die to re-thread the socket. Let me know what ya's think here. I don't want to screw up a brand new sensor. BTW when I looked at the old sensor the threads looked pretty worn down and messed up looking on it.

[GTP Dad]

Cleaning out the bung will not hurt anything and should make the sensor go in easier. Once you do go to install it put a coating of antiseize on the threads and you should be able to avoid this situation in the future.

[faulty585]

i believe if you have a spark plug tap it is same thread as oxygen sensor and this happened to you because someone apparently didnt use a little never seize on the threads quite common problem when i was in the garage !

[Rottweiler28]

Originally Posted by faulty585

i believe if you have a spark plug tap it is same thread as oxygen sensor and this happened to you because someone apparently didnt use a little never seize on the threads quite common problem when i was in the garage !

Well I tapped er out and got the new O2 sensor in place and connected but it didn't seem to change a thing with the van, still losing most of its power during acceleration (Sigh)
Thanks guys.

[faulty585]

rotti, have ya done fuel pump pressure test? and i read u replacing pumps and all but did you check the connections going to pump for corrosion?used to be when they got hot would loose continuity due to corrosion

[Rottweiler28]

Originally Posted by faulty585

rotti, have ya done fuel pump pressure test? and i read u replacing pumps and all but did you check the connections going to pump for corrosion?used to be when they got hot would loose continuity due to corrosion

After the second time of having to drop the tank I did a continuity test from the plug that goes into the fuel pump back to where the wires connect under the passenger door (I think it is) at the small square box with the four pins in it, all checked good for continuity there, we even bunched the wires and moved them around while we did this to make sure it wasn't a break coming lose on bumps and such. I actually swapped out this wire from another van and both were the same.

[Spit]

Are you getting a Check Engine light? If so have you read the codes?
When my 97 G-caravan's fuel pump was going out there was a code that indicated lean fuel mix on the rear fuel rail. Using a a fuel pressure tester from Auto Zone ( about $35). hooked it up to a Schrader valve on the fuel rail. There's supposed to be 50 psi which I had when I first started the van, then gauge would flutter and fall to around 25psi. Once or twice it fell below 20 and the engine started to miss. It really confirmed that it was a fuel delivery problem I ended up installing a complete full pump asby and fuel filter.

For all I know it was just the fuel filter which I had never changed...I thought the van didn't have one...but it does and sits on top of the gas tank. Somebody told me that the only filter it had was part of the fuel pump and that they only way to change it was to drop the tank and pull the pump, Knowing now what I didn't know then...I'm pretty sure I could have changed it without completely removing the gas tank maybe just loosening the bands that hold the tank up.
Spit

[Rottweiler28]

Only code I am getting is 26 and that points to a fiuel injector problem that I don't know how to test for..lol. I had this problem before I started getting this error code though. This code didn't start until I changed the fuel injectors, so I went and messed up something when I did it. I am going to drop the tank again in the morning and swap the pump out for another I have and see if that helps the power loss problem, if not I will try messing with the egr, I have tried just about everything else so i'm running out of tricks. I will report back tomorrow after i finish with the tank and egr.Thanks for the reply

[Fireplug]

hows you cat convertor ,loss of power , it could be a bad cat

[Rottweiler28]

Originally Posted by Fireplug

hows you cat convertor ,loss of power , it could be a bad cat

Checked that and it is empty.