Hello all,
Can anyone tell me how, in the name of all that is holy do you get the downstream O2 sensor out of a 2005 Monte Carlo LT? It is literally UPSIDE DOWN on the pipe. Not to the side, not offset...even a little bit. It is at a perfect 90 degree angle...straight up. I went out...got the sensor, ramps, I got the silly little socket with the side cut out for the cable..get under it and I really wish I had opted to do the rear wheel hub instead. Yes, it is THAT bad. Do I need a special tool? How is there ANY room to work under there? I have NEVER seen an O2 sensor in a more inaccessible place on any car. What the hell was GM thinking? Does EVERYONE here bring their car to a service center? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...
-P

 

It is a tight squeeze, but most O2 sensor sockets will fit on the sensor with enough room left to attach a breaker bar to it. Running the engine to get the pipe hot, spraying the sensor with PB Blaster then letting it cool before trying to break it lose will help. If you can't get the socket on, an offset box end wrench with a piece of pipe slid over the handle for leverage will also work.

 

I've had issues with the cheap O2 sensor sockets not working to break it loose. I've cut the cord on the old/bad O2 sometimes and used a regular deep well socket to get the old one out (did a down stream O2 took about an hour to get the old one out, 5-15 minutes to get the new one in).

 

On another note...I did do the rear wheel hub, and it honestly wasn't THAT bad. I had to bash the hell out of it with a 4 lb sledge hammer (didn't care since I was changing it anyway) for a few minutes but that sucker came out. -P

 

The old o2 sensor I cut the wire an use a box end wrench after I heat it with a torch ..

 

Yeah that is what the guy at the muffler shop down the street ended up having to do. After beating the hell out of it for 30 minutes straight, I bit the bullet and went there to have them crack it free for me. He put a torch on it and even then, it was troublesome. Once out he was like "dude, just give me the new one..I am already here," so he put the new one in for me.
Now, ALL my codes are gone. Strange. I had the P0140 code (o2 sensor), the C1234 (drivers rear wheel speed sensor) and the C1218 code (ABS Pump). After changing the wheel hub last night, I was left with the C1218 and P0140 codes. Now, after a reset of the computer, NO CODES! First time in like 2 years where I DIDN'T hear the annoying chimes and see the lights on my dash. Now, of COURSE I have a transmission issue (solenoids)...I really wish I had the patience to do the job myself...I certainly have the know-how, and probably all the tools...but I do not have a lift (just a driveway)..and if I keep my Actron 9850 plugged in and reset it every time it shifts hard, that works for the time being; at least till I can come up with $1500 to get the tranny done.
Thanks everyone for your help.
-Pete