I tried... I really did. I have tried for 8 days now to get the stupid o2 sensor off of my wife's 87 CRX Si. Turns out that after 20 years it becomes very "attached" to the exhaust manifold.

I've tried breaker bars, pb blaster, liquid wrench, and even cussing. Oddly it didn't work.

Air tools won't fit in that small space, and my impact gun sucks anyway.

Has anyone ever had their o2 sensor replaced by PepBoys or a similar store? I'm freaking out here because I'm sick of spending money and I just want this thing done so she can pass emissions.

Any idea how much I can expect to spend on such an operation?

 

Not faimilar with 87's but could you remove the exhaust mani and then slide a box end wrench over the wire and around the plug and maybe give it a few wacks with a mallet or mini sledge?

That always worked for me, easier to work with off of the car too

 

I'd pull the manifold off and take it to the machine shop... our napa in town will install things like u-joints for free if you buy them there and bring in the drive shaft... mayybe your local napa (if they have a macine shop) will do your o2 sensor?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Loserkidwac &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> slide a box end wrench </TD></TR></TABLE>

that's what i'll use

 

The first time I took my o2 sensor off it took about an hour. I used a crows foot (it is like the head of an open ended wrench but it goes on the end of a rachet sideways) with a swivel head rachet and an extension. It took so different manipulating from different angles but it will come off, try to use a punch to loosen it too. Then I put it back on, couple months later tried to take it off again, came off super easy.

They also sell oxygen sensor removal tools...

 

same thing on my 87 civic si, i just bought a new manifold and put it on with a new sensor

 

I removed my radiator for extra room when I did mine. Also I ran the vehicle for a few minutes to heat up and expand the metal. PB blaster doesn't hurt either.

 

Thanks for the ideas guys, but I've done all of this short of removing the exhaust manifold, which I may have to do tonight.

Maybe I'll just go buy a spare at the junkyard and swap it over.

 

Did you try a swirl MAP torch, using a 1/2 inch socket, extension, handle and 3' piece of pipe? It's either heat the exhaust red hot, around the oxygen sensor and back it out, or pull the exhaust manifold off and take it to a shop. If they have a oxyacetylene torch, they will probably just heat it up and get it out, for you. Maybe find a shop that has a oxyacetylene torch and let them heat it up, so you can get it out.

Good Luck

 

Since it's hotter than h*** in the sun, maybe you can pick up a pop-up sun cannopy, for shade. I got one and it's been a awesome help, compared to having the sun beat on your back. Out of post's, today.