Posted By: Macthediver
Truck Repair Why So H ard??? - 02/23/20 02:40 PM
Check engine light came on in my 2006 Dakota.. Get the computer out hook it up. Bad up stream O2 sensor, ok I can figure that out.. Right? $34.00 at O'Reilly's which for me is literally across the street. Walked over got the part.
Well what ever engineer genius decided where they were putting that thing was not a mechanic. Stuffed in the exhaust pipe just behind the ring bolts pipe to manifold and above the catalytic converter..
Take front wheel off remove plastic wheel well liner it's right there..Kinda.. So of course my truck don't have little plastic clips holding wheel well liner. Been riveted. Not big deal my truck so get sawsall cut a hole in the wheel well liner and heat shield be hind it. Then proceed to try every wrench made or not made to remove the O2 sensor..Tried 4-5 different wrenches supposed to be just for taking out the O2 sensor. Couple I could not even get on the sensor. Wouldn't slide in between sensor and ring on manifold to thick a wall..Then the ones that would fit there was no room left to turn the wrench..
Now I'm kinda left thinking on it. I can drop the cross over pipe may give me enough room to pop the sensor loose? But pretty sure that would end up maybe breaking couple bolts and needing to buy new doughnut gasket??
I did go to harbor freight buy a couple different style 7/8 box end wrenches. Thinking with little cutting bending maybe some welding I can make one them work??
If I had a full blown shop to work in instead of trying to do this laying on drive way.. I'd un-bolt that manifold ring, cut the pipe below catalytic converter pull it out. Remove the old sensor, rotate the pipe either 1/4 turn up or down bolt it back to manifold. Weld the pipe back together below converter be done.. Just a 1/4 turn up or down and I believe I could put a wrench right on that sensor and remove it..
So I have to ask?? Why these people who design these things don't do that? I know enough about that sensor that it can work in any position in that pipe.
No wonder when you take something like this to the shop for fix. Part cost $40.00 and shop time is couple hours and extra parts they break to remove the bad part. My guess is dealer may have special wrench? Or drops the cross over pipe to make room pull that sensor?
My brother suggested drilling my own hole and screwing it in that?? If this truck was older and truly what I think of as one my beaters..I'd probably do that. I got about 5 hours of knuckle scrapping and swearing in it already. Not sure how much more I want to bleed on it..
Had to stop and just breath walk away..
Worst part is it was so nice yesterday I should have been out in boat fishing. Figure instead nice enough to do that sensor I can fish during week when no crowd..Wrong!
Leaving here in a bit to go check Elk trail cams with my sister, kill few hours..Also get another lesson from her on operating the fancy digital camera she loaned me..
Get all whoosaaaed and unwind, before come home maybe beat that O2 senor with maul..wait can't do that either ain't enough room to swing maul..
May have to just put tape over check engine light.
That's my rant for the day..
Mac
Well what ever engineer genius decided where they were putting that thing was not a mechanic. Stuffed in the exhaust pipe just behind the ring bolts pipe to manifold and above the catalytic converter..
Take front wheel off remove plastic wheel well liner it's right there..Kinda.. So of course my truck don't have little plastic clips holding wheel well liner. Been riveted. Not big deal my truck so get sawsall cut a hole in the wheel well liner and heat shield be hind it. Then proceed to try every wrench made or not made to remove the O2 sensor..Tried 4-5 different wrenches supposed to be just for taking out the O2 sensor. Couple I could not even get on the sensor. Wouldn't slide in between sensor and ring on manifold to thick a wall..Then the ones that would fit there was no room left to turn the wrench..
Now I'm kinda left thinking on it. I can drop the cross over pipe may give me enough room to pop the sensor loose? But pretty sure that would end up maybe breaking couple bolts and needing to buy new doughnut gasket??
I did go to harbor freight buy a couple different style 7/8 box end wrenches. Thinking with little cutting bending maybe some welding I can make one them work??
If I had a full blown shop to work in instead of trying to do this laying on drive way.. I'd un-bolt that manifold ring, cut the pipe below catalytic converter pull it out. Remove the old sensor, rotate the pipe either 1/4 turn up or down bolt it back to manifold. Weld the pipe back together below converter be done.. Just a 1/4 turn up or down and I believe I could put a wrench right on that sensor and remove it..
So I have to ask?? Why these people who design these things don't do that? I know enough about that sensor that it can work in any position in that pipe.
No wonder when you take something like this to the shop for fix. Part cost $40.00 and shop time is couple hours and extra parts they break to remove the bad part. My guess is dealer may have special wrench? Or drops the cross over pipe to make room pull that sensor?
My brother suggested drilling my own hole and screwing it in that?? If this truck was older and truly what I think of as one my beaters..I'd probably do that. I got about 5 hours of knuckle scrapping and swearing in it already. Not sure how much more I want to bleed on it..
Had to stop and just breath walk away..
Worst part is it was so nice yesterday I should have been out in boat fishing. Figure instead nice enough to do that sensor I can fish during week when no crowd..Wrong!
Leaving here in a bit to go check Elk trail cams with my sister, kill few hours..Also get another lesson from her on operating the fancy digital camera she loaned me..
Get all whoosaaaed and unwind, before come home maybe beat that O2 senor with maul..wait can't do that either ain't enough room to swing maul..
May have to just put tape over check engine light.
That's my rant for the day..
Mac