Oxygen sensor woes

[oregonloyale]

I was under my EA82 (92 loyale wagon) getting ready to replace the O2 sensor.

I noticed that there is a heat shield made of aluminum surrouning the Y there where the O2 sensor goes in. I thought I could just unbolt it and remove it from the Y so I could put in the sensor but there is no room to pull the top end off and I cant slide it up enough to wrench out the sensor .

Anybody have any ideas or suggestions.

I havent thrown any codes saying to replace the sensor but the car has 96K uncared for miles on it, and its idleing alittle rough.

[soobme]

I don't have a Y pipe my self to look @ but: What if U un-bolted the Y from the heads, would that give U enough room to pull it down and get the sheeld off? Or @ least enough room to get to the O2 sensor.

[ShawnW]

Do you have an oxygen sensor socket and is that what you are trying to use or are you trying to use a wrench?

[thealleyboy]

Orey:

 

You could remove the heat shield to get a little more room. If it's not rattling yet, it will be soon. The heat sheild is nice to have, but uneccesary. You can use a chisel to break the welds attaching it to the y.

 

Better yet, you can remove the y from the heads AND exhaust system.

 

Why you ask?confused:

 

If the car is a keeper, and you plan on doing your own work, you'll want to keep these fasteners in good working order. Major engine or exhaust work will require you to remove the Y, so you should plan on removing it occasionally. Each time you get in there, make sure the fasteners are inspected, and replaced if needed. The threads should be well-lubricated at least.

 

Nothing worse than a snapped/stripped head bolt, or having to replace that Y pipe cause you can't remove the rest of the exhaust from it.

 

good luck, John

[GeneralDisorder]

Yeah - just drop the Y from the heads, and that will give you room to remove the heat shield, and then the O2. The O2 is probably in there REALLY good, so you might have to break it off, and use a box wrench to get the rest out. That's what I did. Make sure to use plenty of anti-sieze when you put in the new one. Also - don't use any silicone compounds forward of the firewall that don't say they are safe for O2 sensors. Silicone will kill an O2 real quick - even a little silicone vapor sucked into the intake....

 

GD

[viceversa]

Your problems have just began, the real issue will be loosening it. I used a long 7/8" socket with 1/2" breaker bar. Of course I had the whole Y-pipe out so that was easy. You may want to soak it in PB Blaster for a few days.

[oregonloyale]

I removed the bottom of the heat shield from the y pipe but couldnt get the top off.I was wondering if you could remove the whole Y from the exhaust so as to do the work out from under the car. How do I unbolt the Y from the exhaust system ?

I dont have a O2 wrench and I dont have a open end wrench to do it with . The biggest open wrench I have is a 20mm.

[calebz]

I have found that removing the y pipe is the easiest way to get the o2 sensor off of those cars(thankfully the one on a turbo car is much easier to get at)

 

unbolt the y pipe from the heads and from the midpipe and your good to go