how the HELL do you get the o2 sensor out of the exhaust pipe!? i tried turnin that bolt that looks like holds it on, but i think it's welded on. then i tried pullin it out, and the part of the sensor before the bolt (just the metal tube that the wire leads into) will turn easily, but it doesn't seem like it's getting any looser. any info would be appreciated, i cant get any further on my car until i get the damn o2 sensor off.

 

edit: opps... misread your post.

If the threads are stuck, use lots of penitrating oil on it and let it soak for a couple of days. After that try it again. The housing should come out then. remember to use anti-seize grease on the new sensor so you can get it out again in the future.

 

on O2 sensors that havn't been changed in ages, I never
used to apply steaidly increasing pressure on my wrench
to get them out, I always used to give it a pushing jolt, like
a stab, quickly, and do this over and over, not really hard, but
putting a little muscle behind it.

this should break it free from rust without stripping the threads.

if after about 20 pulls it's still not coming loose, take a hammer
and hit the end of your wrench to try and break it loose, don't
hit hard, but do it the same way if you were pulling/pushing
the wrench.

the idea is you want to avoid using a steady hard force, which
strips threads, instead you want to kind of send a mini-shockwave
through the unit to make it break loose.

you're less likely to strip all the threads this way, too.


someone correct me if i'm wrong

 

i usually let the car run for a few minutes to get the pipes hot. warming it up should expand the threads enough for it to become loose after a few hits.

 

I crank everything slightly tighter and this normally helps break loose whatever I'm unbolting.

 

thanks for the ideas. i followed the o2 wire upwards and found where it connected to another wire via a clip. i just unclipped this, then took the exhaust out. then i had the exhaust sitting on the groud with all the room i needed to work on the o2 sensor sticking out of it. i'll probably try that penetrating oil for a couple days because there's no way in HELL that thing's gonna come loose with brute force. i tried steady pressure, jerking motions, hitting it w/ a hammer, everything listed above and more to get it loose but it wont work. oh well i'll get it out somehow