02 sensors

[Nonnasdai]

Has anyone had to deal with these darn 02 sensor issues and can it be DIY.  Upstream..downstream ..the code is calling bank one.sensor one front of cat converter.  Just sounds complicated. Husband has gone to get the parts and I'm looking for any tips to provide him when he gets back..I don't think he's had enough you tube video training for this one?

[Jeremy M.]

The downstreams are a bit of a pain (you'd have to disassemble some of the interior trim to access the plug) but upstream sensors are fairly easy on these.

The socket/wrench size is a 22mm or 7/8", and there's cheap oxygen sensor sockets available at most parts stores (one pictured below). Use some penetrating oil and if you have one, a thread chaser to clean the threads before reassembly. Also, make sure not to cheap out on oxygen sensors (especially the upstream ones, they control the air/fuel ratio and as such, how the engine runs). I'd recommend NTK or Denso brand sensors.

[mikaelse]

Hi.  I replaced the downstream sensor on passenger side with a non model specific DENSO O2  sensor with just a cable and no connector. 
Very inexpensive. 
With a soldering iron and some tin and shrink tubes it was easy to cut the wires and get the new sensor fitted from underside of car. worked fine.  

[McBrian]

What are the codes?

Better names for these things moving forward: (as mentioned well above)

Upstream on the manifold coming off the heads are AIR/FUEL sensors that then talk back to the computer to adjust air and fuel to the right balance.

After the cats are the O2 sensors and they do only that. If stuff isn't happening correctly above them they won't read what they're supposed to. All of that then flows back upstream and causes lights, etc.

Let's see what the car is telling us. Then we can throw stuff at it.