I have a b16a1 and I'm trying to pass my emissions. One of the things I'm doing or trying to do is replace the o2 sensor. Its right behind the header and I can't get to it with a wrench or the special 02 socket.

Is the only way I can remove that sensor involve removing the header all together???

any other suggestions?

 

it is better to take off the header and then take off the O2's. also take off when cold and use WD40 or some penetrating oil

 

if you really dont want to take it off you can crawl under there and remove it with a cressent wrench *gasp* its not a perfect way but i would do it cause i get lazy, heh.

 

What about a swivel and one of those oxygen sensor sockets?

 

well I tried to just get the o2 socket on the sensor and the socket is just too long to even get on there.

I think I'll just try to take off the manifold, it just bolts on and off anyways right?

 

Yeah the o2 sensors are a bitch on that manifold, take her off then do it, good luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RenoRacingScene &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you really dont want to take it off you can crawl under there and remove it with a cressent wrench *gasp* its not a perfect way but i would do it cause i get lazy, heh.</TD></TR></TABLE>

wow smart answer. why don't you use a 7/8 wrench or even better yet, get a o2 sensor socket. it is like a 6 point socket with one of the sides missing so the wires can get through. don't ever ever ever use a crecent wrenc. that **** will strip so easily, use locking vice grips if all else fails.

 

well, like I said before I already bought an o2 socket but that clearance that I have to access the sensor is just too small to get the socket in there. And I've had bad experiences with vise grips, they can either work or just make the situation worse. I'm just going to take off the exhaust manifold and get at it that way.

 

Ok, I removed the header to get to the o2 sensor. Which i then found out that there are two sensors. I replaced them both and since I had the rusty header off I figured I would paint it. I put everything back on today and when I started it up, smoke started to come from the header after a few minutes. Is this normal? I'm just going to try to tighten the bolts a little more but I already torqued them down to spec. Which is 22 lbs right? Anybody have any ideas why?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cvc323 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, I removed the header to get to the o2 sensor. Which i then found out that there are two sensors. I replaced them both and since I had the rusty header off I figured I would paint it. I put everything back on today and when I started it up, smoke started to come from the header after a few minutes. Is this normal? I'm just going to try to tighten the bolts a little more but I already torqued them down to spec. Which is 22 lbs right? Anybody have any ideas why? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Paint on headers = smoke. Painting them was not a good idea. Let the paint burn off completely, then wipe the paint ash off. Be sure to use anti-sieze compound on the o2 threads...but be careful not to get any on the zirconia tip of the sensor.

 

would it still smoke even if I used high-temp paint. The smoke looks like its comming from the seal not directly from the header.

 

How's the paint on the header looking? How long after you painted it did you start the car?

I've used high temp paint on exhaust components before and let it cure to the time and it still cooked off. The only time I've ever had success with high temp paint on exhaust components was when it sat for a few days before it was heated up. Try tightening the connections and see if it's still coming from the gaskets. My money is still on the paint.

 

I painted it yesterday morning and used a heat gun to speed the drying process. I'm going to retighten the bolts and let it run for a while and see what happens. thanks.