[Casanova23]

Well I pulled the codes, found out my o2 sensor has went bad on me and my car is running horribly...now my next problem is, i've been searching the forums for a way to remove the o2 sensor and I cannot find one. Anyone have any recommendations? And whats needed?

 

[denisond3]

I have 3 2nd gen. Escorts, and have removed the O2 sensor on each one. I remove the radiator fan and its plastic housing. Its held on my 3 bolts, 10mm heads on them. One you can see on the middle top, the other two are on the drivers side of the fan shrould, and take some patience to get out. There is also the electrical connector to the fan motor to undo.
Then you should be able to more easily reach the sensor. The one in my driveway I just installed last month: its hex takes a 7/8" wrench. They arent necessarily all that size, though hopefully on Escorts they would all be 7/8", or 13/16th.
Its possible to get the right size Crescent wrench (adjustable open end wrench) down there. I find my 8" Cresecnt wrench fits okay. Even my 10" crescent is a little too big.
The best wrench would be a crow-foot refrigeration wrench. I have one by SK tools, their number 42228. It takes a 3/8" ratchet. Here is an image:
www.skhandtool.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=42228
Pricey, but worth it.

 

[FordMan59]

The 02 sensor size is 22MM. You can buy a socket that is notched on the side specifically for the wiring of the 02 sensor or I have found that a stubby 22MM wrench usually works really well. If your sensor is a Bosch sensor the 02 socket will not fit over it because of the large body on the sensor. Be sure when you replace the sensor to put anti seize on the threads of it so if you ever need to remove it again.

 

[Onegimp]

o2 socket and lots of BP blater or liquid wrench.

 

[therieldeal]

heating with a torch will help too if it's stuck badly

 

[Bomdoutscort]

most of the time they have anti seize on them anyways

 

[Casanova23]

I thank you guys for all that valuable information, and yes...it's a Bosch o2 sensor that I got from Advanced Auto Parts. So remove the radiator fan and then it's plastic housing. Since u did say a Bosch is a lil big, what tool should do the job then? I'm just trying to get this done cause I hate the way it's driving and it's killing me on gas. I figured tomorrow i'd try tackling it.

 

[me19875]

i got an O2 sensor socket from harbor freight for a few bucks. worked awesome. 22mm iirc. would suck to try to remove it without the special socket.

 

[Casanova23]

Aye preciate that me19875, thas one thing I can say about most of the guys on this forum. Most...do respond in a timely fashion and well actually help and I can dig that! In the words of the movie "Little Nicky," you guys are the "shiz-nit" haha

But also, do I need to like jack up the car to do this job or should the removal of that fan suffice? Just trying to be sure so I dont create more work for myself lol

 

[Casanova23]

Well I went and attempted to take out the old messed up o2 sensor and that thing will not budge at all! I bought some lil special piece you hook up to a ratchet for o2 sensors that fits but I couldnt get it to break loose, wd-40 and all lol I dont really know what else to do cause that thing has gotta go, any suggestions u guys

 

[Onegimp]

Well I went and attempted to take out the old messed up o2 sensor and that thing will not budge at all! I bought some lil special piece you hook up to a ratchet for o2 sensors that fits but I couldnt get it to break loose, wd-40 and all lol I dont really know what else to do cause that thing has gotta go, any suggestions u guys

Let me quote what I already said.

lots of BP blater or liquid wrench.

 

[Casanova23]

Thanx gimp...i mean i saw that before, but the can that I had didnt have much in it so I had to turn to wd-40, is liquid wrench supposed to be better? It's also looking like what someone said before is going to have to happen, and by that i mean removal of the fan and plastic housing. It's like when u get a ratchet w/ extension down on it, it doesnt line up well and keeps touching the fan. I gotta do something, the damn car cut off on me today coming home from work...sheesh! I'll have to pick up more of the liquid wrench

 

[sleeper7]

Do you have a torch?.. if not get one, preferably with map gas, you can use the same style igniter that fits on the propane cans, I think sometimes its call propylene instead of map, but should be a yellow can.

At the same time, I see you have the 1.8l motor, I'm not sure how this affects the 96+ with obd2, but mines obd1 with a single o2 in the exhaust and I banged it on something when putting in my manifold and it is dead, and to be honest the only thing it is affecting is my gas mileage and air/fuel guage. Otherwise runs fine. If your cars running that bad it could be something else on top of it.

Another thing that helps is an impact gun, I used one of those shitty electric ones when I had my regular bp exhaust mani, it fit fine after removing the fan, but lots of heat is key.

btw.. If you havnt used a torch before, you dont need a fancy one, just goto your local hardware store, like home depot or somthing.

 

[88scortgt]

I have always used a good box end wrench to get O2 sensors out. If it won't fit over the plastic, break it off. If it is really stubborn, I use the ol' two wrench breaker bar method.

 

[Onegimp]

I used an o2 socket, small wobble extension and a really long extension with a breaker bar on my 91gt.

 

[Casanova23]

not to sound like a dummy lol but what exactly is a breaker bar? I dont have a torch but I might have to look into that. And I also thought about changing my spark wires also. Lemme ask though, if the spark wires did go bad is there any way that it would cause the battery light to come on? jw cause thas' been randomly happening here and I just put an alternator on like 3 months ago w/ a new battery.

 

[Onegimp]

not to sound like a dummy lol but what exactly is a breaker bar?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=30395

 

[Onegimp]

And I also thought about changing my spark wires also. Lemme ask though, if the spark wires did go bad is there any way that it would cause the battery light to come on? jw cause thas' been randomly happening here and I just put an alternator on like 3 months ago w/ a new battery.

Battery light means there is a problem with the chargeing system (alternator).

 

[Casanova23]

Thanx gimp I sure the heck hope it's not that considering i've just changed this thing here recently. I'll have to look into acquiring one of those breaker bars cause that looks like it could come in handy. Today I plan on tackling the o2 sensor again...so lemme ask...should I go ahead and remove the fan? what u think?

 

[Escort92Man]

can't hurt to remove the fan to get more room, makes it easier, then you can take the exhaust shield off the manifold and you can put a 22mm combo wrench on there, also available at harbor freight, put the closed end of the wrench on it and hit it away, or an oxy socket works great too, you got the tools I'm sure, yeah that fan is an easy remove one wire connector and 3 10mm bolts, so simple. yet tight for space to get to the bottom one unless you get it from under lol.

just be careful of that radiator sitting right there though, don't wanna punch a hole in it! I almost did once but my knuckles cushioned the blow between ratchet and radiator, now it's got a little red in it ha ha! I got blood in that car for sure!

best of luck! and a little torch to heat that sensor up, and then stand back some and spray some penetrating lube on it with NO FLAMES AROUND, cuz the hot metal might light that lube up so be CAREFUL IF YOU DO THAT don't wanna give you advice that catches your car on fire, so be EXTRA CAREFUL! most likely a good breaker bar, extensions out far enough, and just wrench on it like you are depending on it it should come out, you might have to recut the threads with a spark plug thread chaser tap because I know when my oxy sensor came out the original one with 180k on the car it took the threads out with it, that stank.

best of luck.