“mechanic” SECRET to removing oxygen sensor (stuck or seized) O2

The oxygen sensor socket is for installing the new sensor. If you are replacing the sensor you can just cut the wire off and use a normal socket for removal, no rigging required.

Thanks!

Complicate this a little by changing an O2 sensor that's on the rear of the engine where arms can't fit with a cm of clearance between itself and the bulk head... A top mounted is a dream but in reality the bastard isn't this simple...

That didn’t work. All it did was snap the screw clamp.

Great tips!!! If replacing anyway why would it matter to spin the wire?

I was ready to weld more metal to the bottom of the socket to stiffen it. This is an easier idea for everyone.

Or you can just cut off the cord since its getting replaced anyway.

Just use a blue wrench (propane was enough for me last week) on the exhaust side of the threads (not the sensor itself). Things will start expanding and eventually release. Make sure you use anti seize when reinstalling.
Don't let the car body get too hot, I've seen videos of people catching the carpet on fire when playing with fire or welding under the car.

O2 sensors should not be too tight it's the rust that makes the sensor too tight, I use heating and shrinking method and use the correct tool oe wrench to remove the sensor, I don't know about this hose clamp stuff.

Been working on mine for 3 days now. I tried that trick over and over the first 2. Ive never seen a sensor so embedded into something like this.

great vid

I used that exact method and from the ground with no lift so didnt have much room for leverage. I was soo surprised when it worked. Ty for this help

Good tip but in my 40 plus years as a mechanic I never seen or thought about this as an issue. Yes , O2 sensors do seize in but if your removing it , it’s for a reason that you suspect it’s bad and replacing it. I usually cut the wire off so i don’t have to use the special socket ( I have a few variations of them) , make sure your 7/8 deep sockets bore is all the way up. Take a die grinder to do this if yours isn’t. I found a cheaper one that luckily was already deep enough and no grinding needed. The reason for using the $10 cheap one is so I didn’t have to bore out a $50 snap on socket

Protip, before spinning those sensors out, unplug them from the harness so you don't have to worry about fighting with that wire.

Great idea!

I want to remove my downstream O2 sensor to check it and possibly clean it but I'm afraid to break it. What happens if it breaks will my car still run?

That socket sucks , theres literally a wrench built for your 02 sensors

What about cutting the wire and using deep well if it’s being replaced anyway

Try that in the "rust belt" that flimsy socket is only any good for installing a new sensor.

@ kinggook- did you get the job done? I use a long 1/2 extension and keep a lot of downward pressure on the tool as I break it free. If that tool rocks you get complications.

Gotta love these guys that show a top mounted O2 sensor above the engine rather than one tucked up under the car in a tight area and NO LIFT! This video depicts less than 5% of the combinations out there. And doesn't acknowledge the other 95% or any helpful tips with those that don't have clearance. Nor disconnecting the O2 sensor at the junction, up wire, so not to stress, if reusing it!

Try heating the bung. Works every time.

C4 is good, too, but kinda noisy.

Rolled a corner of the sensor with a long handled wrench. Got a socket like the one depicted. Small cutout, not the ones missing a whole side. Clamped down a 7/8 and it worked perfectly. Thanks!

Thanks but no good for me. I had the tool and went out and bought a breaker bar. It is so tight in my engine, I could not move the breaker bar into a position that will allow me to get a good grip on. Now I can go and get ripped off blind by a mechanic

Thanks, Live Free! 🙂
Remember that God loves ❤️ you!

Mine has a metal heat shield around it pipe wrench will not work for me

I miss the simplicity of older cars , when you could lift the bonnet and see everything, and didn't have to remove a ton of plastic covers or pipes , before they had sensor things that look like spark plugs etc etc..
I used to do my own basic maintenance at home .
I didn't know what thst sensor thing was until looking on utube, I thought it was a spark plug & just wondered why it had a spark plug sticking out of an aluminium cover around the manifold, I can't even see that part of the exhaust & see where the blowing noise is actually coming from...

where you get the tool from

This is got to be the best video I have seen on o2 sensor removal . Thank you this works .

I’m just getting ready to dive into the O2 removal project now you probably saved me about two hours worth of time lol thank you very much and God bless you🙏✝️

Thank you boss

Great idea! Thanks!❤

it is impossible to unscrew it. The edges are already starting to break down😭

Pretty good

Sure it works great all I have to do is turn my motor down so I can get to it this video helps not one bit when you're lying on your back underneath your vehicle with your hands tied in knots up in the chassis

doesnt work.

thank you!

i used the similar trick to get my inner tie rod out.

This is an excellent idea and methodology! Thank you!

Now..a trick for the sensors with the guard around it.

A word of advice: Never, EVER use a pipe wrench on anything on your car. A pipe wrench is a plumber's tool, not a mechanic's.

If you have to, a mechanic uses a pair of Vise-Grips®. If you don't own a pair go out and buy them..

Very Nice, Thanks so much, worked like a charm...

Love this - thanks.

THANK. YOU. SIR.

I had one stuck and the completely rounded out the hex nut on the sensor using the O2 sensor socket. I had to resort to a pipe wrench cause it has some excellent grip

What most of these tips and tricks videos have is either a breaker bar or plenty of room to manuver, or usually both.
I do not have that. There's no way to get a breaker bar into it. The sensor is extremly siezed.

Why not just snip the wires at the at the O2 sensor and use a box wrench

Now this is a great tip thanks for the help keep it up

Just asking... Could you cut the wires and then use a regular deep socket?

What a worthless video. I was looking for seized removal