O2 Sensor - Right or Left

[ron96ltd]

I went to Autozone for the CEL evaluation and left with an O2 sensor ($49). The evaluation indicated that the sensor on "Bank 1" was the problem. That's the sensor in front of the cat converter. Is "Bank 1" the driver's side or the passenger side?

Thanks,
Ron
96 LTD

 

[Robert]

Bank one is the side that cylinder # 1 is located on. Bank 2 is the other side. I can't remember for sure but you can find out by popping your hood and looking at which side the spark plug wire from # 1 goes to. I think it is the passensger side, but look to be sure.

 

[ron96ltd]

Robert,

My Haynes manual says that the passenger side of the engine has cylanders 1,2,3 from front to rear. It must be the O2 sensor on the passenger side.

Thanks, Ron

 

[Rhett]

On vehicles with more than 1 O2S, it is recommended to change O2S in pairs.

I think the reasoning for that is, that if you've got 1 new O2S in there, it will send signals precisely and perfectly based on the oxygen flowing past it. However, the old O2S may not. They may still be operating within spec, and not be off enough to set off a trouble code...but if they send a signal at .1 volts higher than the new O2S would, then the PCM can still get the wrong idea, leading to an engine that's not running ideally...

of course do what you like, I know O2S aren't the cheapest thing in the world esp. if you have 4 of them, but just thought i'd mention it...

 

[ron96ltd]

I tried to replace the passenger side upstream O2 sensor this weekend and couldn't get the pigtail unpluged. They couldn't have put it in a more difficult place. Anyone have any suggestions.

Replacing both is probably a good idea. Thanks. The driver's side sensor is an easy one.

Ron
96 LTD

 

[NoBoundaries]

Go in through the passenger side wheel-well. Just pull the rivets/cover off.

 

[ron96ltd]

Great idea. I removed the tire and replacing the O2 sensor was a breeze.

Thanks, Ron