O2 sensor replacement
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: texas
O2 sensor replacement
I've got a high mileage 07, LS460 (156,000 miles) with a Bank 1 & 2 running rich code.
Service center says to replace the #2 O2 sensors both sides.
Checked youtube and found a video showing what the job is. For those who have never done it, it shows that you must remove the 2 front seats to get at the wiring harness connection.
Went out and bought a special socket for disconnecting the O2 sensor from the exhaust pipe. Doesn't work, not enough room to get the socket into the space.
First question.
Is there a special "short" socket made for Lexus?
Second question,
Instead of removing the front seats, can I just cut and solder the wires and make sure the soldered part is stuffed up into the interior of the car to keep it away from exhaust system heat, which may melt the solder joint.
I would appreciate any info from someone who has done this.
Don
Service center says to replace the #2 O2 sensors both sides.
Checked youtube and found a video showing what the job is. For those who have never done it, it shows that you must remove the 2 front seats to get at the wiring harness connection.
Went out and bought a special socket for disconnecting the O2 sensor from the exhaust pipe. Doesn't work, not enough room to get the socket into the space.
First question.
Is there a special "short" socket made for Lexus?
Second question,
Instead of removing the front seats, can I just cut and solder the wires and make sure the soldered part is stuffed up into the interior of the car to keep it away from exhaust system heat, which may melt the solder joint.
I would appreciate any info from someone who has done this.
Don
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 5,371
Likes: 526
From: BC Canada
Wow, I never though it would be that involved. Personally, I would go to an exhaust shop and have them take a look, and see if there is a shortcut. According to Alldata DIY you do indeed need to remove the seats. As for the tool for removing the sensor, it's expensive....about 125-150 dollars. Here it is:
http://www.autotoolworld.com/OTC-092..._p_217188.html
http://www.autotoolworld.com/OTC-092..._p_217188.html
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 365
From: New Hampshire
I would not solder those wires, any added resistance will throw off the readings to the computer, plus you open yourself up to corrosion.
I didn't realize you had to remove the seats to disconnect the harness, you can't get your hand under there without removing them? Or you can't just pull the harness out from the bottom?
Oh and I'd also be concerned that replacing the sensors won't fix the problem, seems strange that both banks are running rich, I'd blame that more on something else upstream. You could have misfires from bad plugs or coils, you could have a fuel injector leak, you could have a wiring problem to the coils. I just find it funny that both banks are rich, if it was just one maybe I'd condemn the O2 sensor, but both? I'd look into it a little further before I started replacing them, if for no other reason than it sounds like a pain to replace them.
I didn't realize you had to remove the seats to disconnect the harness, you can't get your hand under there without removing them? Or you can't just pull the harness out from the bottom?
Oh and I'd also be concerned that replacing the sensors won't fix the problem, seems strange that both banks are running rich, I'd blame that more on something else upstream. You could have misfires from bad plugs or coils, you could have a fuel injector leak, you could have a wiring problem to the coils. I just find it funny that both banks are rich, if it was just one maybe I'd condemn the O2 sensor, but both? I'd look into it a little further before I started replacing them, if for no other reason than it sounds like a pain to replace them.
Last edited by Doublebase; Aug 23, 2017 at 05:19 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,345
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From: North Carolina
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 645
Likes: 151
From: FL
You can rent such tools at AutoZone, etc., for $0., yes, that's free. Pay for the tool up front and receive a full refund on its return. Not sure if the Lexus requires something other than a basic O2 sensor tool, though. Main thing with these tools, other than proper socket size, is allowing the sensor wires to be outside the socket allowing you to get the socket on the sensor. That's the reason for the cut out portion of the socket.
Last edited by jud149; Aug 24, 2017 at 04:58 AM.
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From: BC Canada
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: texas
It was going to be a while before I got the special socket from China so I decided to do the job by cutting the wires. If I did that, I could use a "normal" socket to get the O2 sensor out.
I cut the wires of the new sensor long enough so that when I was through soldering the joints and shrink wrapping them, I could make sure the joints would end up inside the car.
All of the work went well, however, after resetting the "check engine & VSC" lights, the lights came back on after about 30 miles of driving.
So, I'm going to say, on my car, Bank 1&2, sensor 2 running rich, is NOT caused by bad O2 sensors.
My next stop will be to have the fuel injectors cleaned and checked.
Any other suggestions out there?
Thanks to all who have answered so far.
I cut the wires of the new sensor long enough so that when I was through soldering the joints and shrink wrapping them, I could make sure the joints would end up inside the car.
All of the work went well, however, after resetting the "check engine & VSC" lights, the lights came back on after about 30 miles of driving.
So, I'm going to say, on my car, Bank 1&2, sensor 2 running rich, is NOT caused by bad O2 sensors.
My next stop will be to have the fuel injectors cleaned and checked.
Any other suggestions out there?
Thanks to all who have answered so far.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: texas
I would not solder those wires, any added resistance will throw off the readings to the computer, plus you open yourself up to corrosion.
I didn't realize you had to remove the seats to disconnect the harness, you can't get your hand under there without removing them? Or you can't just pull the harness out from the bottom?
Oh and I'd also be concerned that replacing the sensors won't fix the problem, seems strange that both banks are running rich, I'd blame that more on something else upstream. You could have misfires from bad plugs or coils, you could have a fuel injector leak, you could have a wiring problem to the coils. I just find it funny that both banks are rich, if it was just one maybe I'd condemn the O2 sensor, but both? I'd look into it a little further before I started replacing them, if for no other reason than it sounds like a pain to replace them.
I didn't realize you had to remove the seats to disconnect the harness, you can't get your hand under there without removing them? Or you can't just pull the harness out from the bottom?
Oh and I'd also be concerned that replacing the sensors won't fix the problem, seems strange that both banks are running rich, I'd blame that more on something else upstream. You could have misfires from bad plugs or coils, you could have a fuel injector leak, you could have a wiring problem to the coils. I just find it funny that both banks are rich, if it was just one maybe I'd condemn the O2 sensor, but both? I'd look into it a little further before I started replacing them, if for no other reason than it sounds like a pain to replace them.
You really have to remove the seats. According to the Youtube video, you have to disconnect some of the seatbelts also. There is also seat heating and AC,
wiring for the power seat, and possibly sensors for pre-tensioning the seat belts.
In short, there is probably no way they could have made this simple job any harder. I can only imagine what the dealer would charge.
Cheers,
Don
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: texas
O2 Sensor Replacement
Just a follow-up on my sensor replacement.
Initially, the first ride after replacing both O2 sensors, the same lights as before came on after driving the car for about 10 minutes.
After the second reset, the lights have remained off, after about 100 miles of driving.
I am hoping I've solved my problem.
Initially, the first ride after replacing both O2 sensors, the same lights as before came on after driving the car for about 10 minutes.
After the second reset, the lights have remained off, after about 100 miles of driving.
I am hoping I've solved my problem.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 645
Likes: 151
From: FL
Just a follow-up on my sensor replacement.
Initially, the first ride after replacing both O2 sensors, the same lights as before came on after driving the car for about 10 minutes.
After the second reset, the lights have remained off, after about 100 miles of driving.
I am hoping I've solved my problem.
Initially, the first ride after replacing both O2 sensors, the same lights as before came on after driving the car for about 10 minutes.
After the second reset, the lights have remained off, after about 100 miles of driving.
I am hoping I've solved my problem.