36 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHO2 sensor removal?
Leading reported evidence
Replace 4 sensors
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Resurrecting an old thread....I've just changed all 4 sensors on my '02.
Leading evidence: 'Replace 4 sensors' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Disconnect wiring harness' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
On the driver's side, the upstream sensor was equally easily replaced with the same 22mm.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I run the car to warm things up and PB blast it overnight to loosen it up.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Replacing it was accomplished from above and tightened by the 22mm wrench.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
36 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T082735Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Ok, so maybe my searching sucks but I'm pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to remove the sensors on the cats (2 on each side).
This is for my spec boxster but I assume they are the same on a 996.
I need to get this exhaust out today so I can call it a day and start doing real work
Thanks!
If they are not removed from the car, it is QUITE difficult to damn near impossible. It's
much easier
to disconnect the cats/mufflers and simply undo the wiring harnesses and route the cats/wires out from the car. It's only 3 nuts that hold the cats on anyway. You'll need a new gasket to put them back on (if you are using them). FWIW, I could not get my 02 removal tool into the engine bay to loosen the sensors. I tried an open faced long handle wrench as well, but without enough leverage I was hosed. It ended up being a 30 minute job to take both cats off and put them back on...
With cats removed from the car, attach the 02 removal tool to your breaker bar and twist. It should come undone pretty easily. If it is really stuck, someone probably left the anti-seize off. You might need to heat the connection with a torch and break it then.
-td
Yup. Costs like 5 bucks at Harbor Freight or Northern Tool. Might be a little more at Autozone/PepBoys.
95045.gif
BTW, Dell, I ended up with Josh's car. 20,XXX on the clock. Delivered earlier this week, but I had some servicing done (oil, brake flush, filters, etc). Picking it up today.
-td
Heading over to Northern Tool now. WHat size is it??? I'm getting 22-23mm on my micrometer.
Awesome find on Josh's car! Can't wait to hear your impressions.......
O2 sensors are a standard size.. Autozone, etc have em. Since the space is super tight...Don't buy the deep socket looking one posted earlier you want a stubby looking thing that is slotted and has the 3/8 attachment point offset over to the side. See the link.
http://www.carparts.com/Engine-Tools...5_N__10618.car
A long a$$ wobble extension seems to do the trick.
Since you are likely dropping the cats altogether, just unclip the harness and drop everything at once leaving the O2 sensors in place.
I had more of a problem getting the wire/lead snaked in and out more than getting the O2 sensor out.
I used an open-end wrench and it came right out. I may have been lucky though.
It is stainless steel, not cheap mild steel so minimal corrosion should be around the threads of the bung and sensor itself.
No luck at Northern Tool. I'll try autozone later. Just need to spend some time in air conditioning for a while. It's 90 and humid. Yuck.
I think that I am going to do the unclip method. I just need to make sure I know how to unclip them properly as I don't want to break the clips. It seems every damn clip in these cars is a new rubics cube every time
Suggestions on proper unclip procedure?
I run the car to warm things up and PB blast it overnight to loosen it up. Next day a simple 22mm wrench is all that is needed, for me at least. This is with the Cats on the 996 still.
Touche'
Problem is that it is finals week and I just wrapped up. My brain is mush trying to get grades done and listen to all the grade adjustment requests. Thanks God tonight is martini night!
PB Blaster is one of the best penetrants I used to loosen stubborn nuts. It is much better than WD-40. I spray it liberally days before I actually work on the car.
Autozone or Kragen, if they have one in your area, will loan out a O2 socket for FREE.
Dell,
If you unclip the O2 sensors and remove the cats, then twist off the sensors, you don't need a slitted socket. An open end wrench should work well.
The electrical fasteners are definitely difficult to remove. I don't know about 986 sensors, but 996 sensors are fastened as follows. The side of the fastener connected to the O2 sensor has two small locking tabs that must be depressed before the fastener can be pulled apart. If your fingers are husky, it could be difficult without using some kind of tool to depress the tabs. I've attached pics here, complete with a Dell background.
Good luck!
One more bit of info, Dell. There's a sliding retainer that covers the clips. It looks like this on the 996 (see pics). You can pull the entire electrical connector assembly out of the clip that mounts it to the car body (1st 3 pics). Then you just pull the red sliding retainer up, and the connector will come apart easily (4th pic).
I hope my earlier post wasn't too confusing.
Once you decide, please post about it. I've been through two sets of "performance" cats; they're light but not track-tolerant. So I'm considering cat bypass pipes. Have already made extensions for the secondary O2 sensor.
Is this on a dedicated track car? Why bother with cats at all? If sound is an issue, just fab in a couple of Borla or some other universal resonators. Any muffler shop should be able to handle that.
I've used a 200 cel cat made by "Metal Cat" in another exhaust application with no emissions problems. Not expensive and served me well. I doubt Dell will be using cats in his setup.
HTH
Just replaced my Bank 2 (passenger side) O2 sensors after reading everything online I could find. I was able to do it by jacking up the car and removing the rear bumper and the air intake component where the air filter is (don't know the proper name). This provided pretty easy access to the sensors from underneath. I used a 22m open-ended wrench. Didn't need the special tool. I used PB blast. Overall not too difficult. Pleasantly surprised.
Resurrecting an old thread....I've just changed all 4 sensors on my '02. No need to remove the bumper or lower the engine. The passenger side bank could not be easier from underneath the car. I have a Harbor Freight set of open/box wrenches that goes all the way to 26mm (
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-pc-...set-63063.html
) . The 22mm is a long wrench and worked perfectly. On the driver's side, the upstream sensor was equally easily replaced with the same 22mm. The downstream sensor was tight (even after hitting it with Kroil overnight) and I used an O2 sensor tool (the short one) and loosened it from above in the engine compartment using a very short 3/8" extension and a ratchet with a articulating head. Just break it loose, remove the tool and loosen/remove the sensor by hand from above by getting your hand down into the area. Replacing it was accomplished from above and tightened by the 22mm wrench.
Just putting this up for reference should anyone be attempting the task.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
