O2 Sensor

[resseguc]

My '04 Alero 2.2L has the service engine soon light on and when a scan was done at Advanced Auto Parts I was told it was the O2 Sensor (Bank 1 Sensor 1). That sensor is the one before the converter, but being that I have never changed an O2 sensor on any car I don't have the slightest idea where to find this thing, how long it should take me to do it, and how difficult this may be. Overall I am pretty handy when it comes to car maintenance so I am not too worried about difficulty unless you folks inform me that I should be.
Thanks in Advance
Corey

[pistonring]

Generally speaking, changing the oxygen sensor on most cars is pretty straight forward. They just screw into the exhaust pipe in various locations. Sometimes they are hard to break loose. Usually they are in such a tight spot that if using a wrench you have no room for turning. A socket designed for this is usually much more helpful. They have a wire on them that will plug into the harness, it is easily removed. From the time you get it to pop loose, it will take just a couple of minutes to complete the job.

Hope this helps.