What is an O2 sensor and how do I change it?? '03 CHevy-cavalier?

Question

It will cost me 300 to change the O2 sensor at a repair shop. Do you think this can be done without going to the repair shop??

Answer 1

Its one of the too many many environmental hassels that go out and cost us more more money. You most likely have more than one and they will be located in your exaust pipe. Just look along the the pipe from the muffler to the engine until you see wire sticking out of it. All you do is unscrew it from the pipe and disconect the the wire.

Answer 2

Your car will have two O2 sensors if it's a 4 cylinder and three O2 sensors if it's a V-6/V-8.

This is the "oxygen sensor" that rides on the exhaust manifold and or exhaust pipe(s). It measures oxygen in the exhaust stream and sends a signal to the cars brain box.

Most of the time it can be removed with a wrench or adjustable wrench but if it's hard to get a wrench on then you can use a special socket that has part of the side cut away so you can use it and the wire runs to the side or ou tthe top. You'll use a 3/8" ratchet to remove it or an adjustable wrench on the outside of the socket. check with AutoZOne and see if they have this socket in their free loaner tool box.

The single wire that comes out of the top has a small plug on it and is easy to unplug and plug in.

You would not have to replace both of the O2 sensors unless they both were bad. They typically will last between 100-200,000 miles or more. If they register defective or show up as "the problem" when they do an engine diagnostic or pull the computer codes from the brain box, I'd get a second opinion since the car is still new.

Don't tell the other shop what the first shop diagnosed. Just tell then what the symptoms are or were. It is most likely something other than the O2 sensor(s).

You might just need an oil change and throw some fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank the next time you fill up. When the oil gets really old and dirty you will get emissions signals that are false only because the oil has not been changed at regular intervals like 3,000-5,000 miles or two to three time a year minimum if you dirve it every day.
The only way to get the impurities out of the oil is to change it.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

well, a O2 sensor is basicly a nose for the cars computer, it tells the computer how much o2 is in the engines exhaust, thus controlling the air/fuel mixture to the engine.
to change it, it can be difficult or easy to replace, depending on where its located on your engine. the sensor its self costs from $40 to $150, and labor depends on where its located, if its easy to get to, it would be less, if lost of things have to be removed to access it, it will be more.

Answer 4

Its normally not too hard to change....if you can get to it! Its just a small probe screwed into the exhaust normally not too far from the manifold with 1 or 2 wires coming out of it connectect to a small plug. IF you can get to it, it can be changed in just a few minutes.

Answer 5

the sensor is expensive and difficult to do without proper tools--let a shop do it