I want to clean the 02 sensor that's throwing a code (front right). Do i have to jack the car up? Can i just do it with a monkey wrench in my parking lot? I have never tried it but i want to see if i can clean it.

 

Good question.Anyone have an answer?

 

You’ll more than likely have to jack it up to get under to get access to it. Plus they are stubborn bastards to try and get out; also a stock y-pipe will make it a bit harder

 

I finagled a front o2 out w/o jacking it up. Was a pain and it took a while to fit the socket on it. Prob would have been quicker/easier to lift it though. BTW... It helped that I am a skinny lil' mexican!

 

yeah i just looked under the car and i can't even find the dam thing. I have to jack it up but i live in an apartment and i dont have jack stands

 

Just jack it, no homo.

 

ramps would be better in your situation.

Attn: Do not go under the car without proper jack stands. You can get them relatively cheap at Wal-Mart or other store.

 

I recommend replacing them instead of just cleaning them.

 

a monkey wrench? you've got to be kidding me.. You do need to lift your car properly, ie jack and jackstands, or ramps... You also need an o2 socket to remove the o2 sensor..

 

Wow I've never heard anyone say anything about a special tool to remove these sensors. The pic's i find online make it look like i can use a monkey wrench.

 

Yes, there is an O2 sensor socket, you can rent it for free at Autozone.

 

Never hurts to pick up the proper tool, its pretty cheap, I've always just used a wrench though and never had any problems.

 

Glad I noticed this thread.

I've got a 0409/P0133 light, so I'm looking in to checking out the rear O2 sensor. I had something like this done from me before, but several hundred dollars later I've been exhorted to do this myself. They charged me $100 just to check the error code...

I found this thread via google: code P0133 => 0409...wat is it??



I've never done any car specific work, but I do have a jack and blocks to prop-up the car while I work on it. Is a special tool really required? I assume I need to clean the area / if so with what should I clean it?

Also, is it true that this O2 sensor may have been gooped-up since I've always used simple regular fuel? That's an impression I got from a newsgroup somewhere. Should I start using 93octane?

Thanks
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98 Maxima SE auto, 65k

 

There's a write-up on the How-To Stickies on how to install O2 sensors.

 

Yes it is possible to do without jacks, but it can be a PITA. You might need a universal joint and extensions of various sizes. An O2 sensor socket would definitely make things easier.

 

Well, any wrench can be a monkey wrench depending on who is holding it I guess.

 

Awesome, thanks. I found it in the How-To <here>.

Says 95-96 though. I assume it really means all 4th gen though, correct?

 

Uh huh. All you gotta do is locate it and unscrew it...

 

no need for a how-to, just unscrew follow the connecter to the engine bay for the upstream ones and disconnect the electrical connector. Put some anti-seize on the threads of the new one and reverse the procedure.

 

I'm seeing different SKUs for the O2 sensors depending on location, not just year. Is there really any difference in the sensors i.e. should I be vigilant in making sure I get the correct, particular variation? Or are all 4thgen Maxima O2 sensors unvarying?

 

If you're gonna clean it instead of replacing it, i would suggest using a torch to burn off the deposits. This is the only method that won't jeopardize the longevity of the sensor.

 

Man, I didn't even get the socket and I did it just fine. And when a sensor throws a code that ussually means that the catalyst inside the sensor is worn out and cleaning it will do absolutely NOTHING. You need to just get new sensors if you are going to take the time to get under there and do all that work... it's just not worth it just to clean it... believe me, I know from experience. I tried to do the same thing you are trying to do and it didn't work.

 

A lot of places check codes for free. If not, they only charge around $10-15. Even if you didn't find this website...theres NO WAY i would pay that much for them to plug a lil tool in

Back on topic, i guess you can, but my car is so low that i can't even go on ramps...so that would be a no go for me......

 

Oh, well, I'm not the guy who asked about the ramps / started this thread. But yeah, that's the same thing I thought and what started me into finding out about cars.

Any comments on the octane issue? Is regular truely OK, or should I be using 93octane?

What brand O2 sensor to go for, and where's the place to buy it? Bosch, Denso, Autometer, NTK, OEQ, or no-name "standard"? Oh, what does OE stand for? OE = OEM?

After some googling, I'm looking at at ThePartsBin.org, Car-Stuff.com, and 1motormart.com. This Denso for $70.88 shipped from Car-Stuff.com looks like a good deal...but is it good quality?

 

1. cleaning wont do jack..u need to replace it. 2. use an open ended wrench 7/8" i believe...02 sockets are pain to use on maximas 3. JACK THE CAR UP AND PUT It ON STANDS or use ramps

 

My Max had started throwing O2 Sensor System Errors and O2 Sensor errors a while back... I pulled all three O2s and let them sit in Mineral Spirits for a few hours while I was doing other things... I let them dry out, then reinstalled... flogged the hell out of the car (which threw a few O2 codes obviously) but reset them using an OBD2 reader. After about 2 days, the codes stopped, car drives great, and gas mileage and performance are up... Normally when it would throw them, it would be on a throttle blipped down shift... but that soon stopped and it wasn't throwing anymore codes.

I know its just a temporary thing, I wasn't expecting it to solve my problem, but it worked ok for me... took a LOT of the deposits off... Sensors were almost new looking when I put them back in! All I did was let them sit for a while, then stirred them around in the fluid, brushed them off with a soft bristled brush, and stirred them again, then let them dry off before installing... Worked pretty good for me, but I'm not going to say its an end all be all solution.

 

I don't agree.
I had both front sensors showing codes. After cleaning the codes went away and 1200 miles later, the CEL is still out and I have no codes on the ecu and the fuel consumption is fine.

 

give it time...CEL with 02 sensors will go off for a while then come back on...mine does all the time...so its only a matter of time before it comes back

 

I started the trip odometer after i filled up the tank. Now i'm reading 325 miles and my gas guage reads LESS then E. I'm sorry but that seem pathetic.

WHAT SIZE GAS TANK'S DO WE HAVE???

 

16.5 gallons. 325 isnt that bad

 

actually, its 18.5, and 325 really isnt that bad..although there is a 400 club...

 

My last fill was 374 miles to 17.128 gallons. $50 fill! =(

 

Well although we are getting raped at the pump it's good to know that EXXON made $8.5 BILLION this first quarter. That makes me mad to the point of wanting to KILL. Absolutely sickening.

 

Before my recent o2 sensor/plug problem I was getting 380-390 per tank. I haven't solved the rough idle issue yet and am now down to 320-330 miles per tank. Hopefully I get this issue fixed and get my MPG back up!

 

Wow do you get 380 on mostly highway because I get around 340 a tank driving 60% highway and the rest local.

 

I drive about 40 miles a day round trip to work, and about 10 miles round trip for lunch everyday... I'd say about 30 miles of the work trip is 50-70mph highway driving (sometimes slows, like this morning, last mile was bumper to bumper crawl at like 5mph) and about 6 miles of lunch is highway... but the rest is spirited city driving... I get up to about 4-5krpm and enough throttle to make the intake growl... =) I'm just about to pass 300 miles on this tank, and I'm not yet to a 1/4 tank mark on the gauge...

 

330 miles 16.25 gallons= 20 MPG. That's what i get.

 

Just filled up...

303 miles to 13.424 gallons gives 22.572 MPG

$3.129/gallon though... =( $40 fill! Ouch

 

I have a similar issue, borrowed the Autozone Scanner and it spit out code PO153B. Is there some place on this site that tells me which sensor this is? Self-diagnose came to 0409 = undefined. Thanks

 

JK98SE5, See that link I posted on the first page with the photo.


Back on topic, from another forum I found somewhere via google:

Who was the OEM for Maxima O2 sensors? NTK or Denso, anyone know?

DanMaxima

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98 Maxima SE, stock