How tough is it to change out the oxygen sensors on the said above Civic? This is on a friends civic and thought I would help out if I can.

 

It's not difficult if you buy an O2 sensor socket and have a breaker bar. Soak the old sensor in PB Blaster for awhile before attempting to remove.

 

How are they different? The sockets I mean. And aren't there two O2 sensors. That's what the auto parts man said.

 

The socket is special in that it can accommodate the O2 sensor wires. The socket works for both sensors. But do you need to replace both?

 

^The 02 sensor socket has a channel on the side of one of the edges. Can look like so:

 

If you have both sensor codes, there may be a problem with the wiring where the sensors are not getting power.

After you're sure a sensor is bad you can break off the part with the wires and unscrew the base part with a regular socket. Put the new one in with an end wrench, it doesn't have to be super tight.

 

I don't know if both are bad. A friend said the auto shop said a O2 sensor was bad. I called Advanced Auto and they asked which one. Upstream or downstream from the cat convertor. Where can one purchase that special socket? Cost?

 

I think they are in Autozone's loan a tool program where you basically buy it but you are invited to return it and get all your money back after you're done. Advance might have a similar program.

Also you can take the car to Advance or Autozone or most consumer parts chains and they will read the codes for you to know which sensor.

 

Thanks I will suggest that if the shop did not say which one.