Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and teeman914
Member
I just got done replacing both O2 sensors on my '96 with a 2.3L. The downstream one was no problem. Although the upstream one I had a bugger with. The female plug - I found out afterwards - is suppose to be attached somewhere between the firewall and the engine block where you CANNOT see.
My truck had the attached plugs just dangling back there. I was able to wiggle my hand back there, get a finger on the locking clip and pull them apart. Then I thought "oh shit" how am I going to plug them back together. I can in no way get both of my hands back there. And I can't hold the female plug AND the male plug attached to the O2 AND snap them both together with one hand. I thought at that time who in the hell designed something like this.
Luckily I was able to call my son to come over and he was able to hold the female plug from above and I was able to push the male plug back in from under the truck. Also I had to leave the O2 sensor itself not screwed into the exhaust pipe because I just could get enough play in the wire to make the connecting "click". Once the connection was made I counter clockwise twisted the sensor the number of turns I though it would take to tighten it. When it was fully tightened into the pipe luckily the wires were fairly straight. It was about 5 turns.
Afterwards upon inspecting - in that very tight space - the connected plugs I noticed the two fish scale nipples (I don't know if that's what they're called) on the female plug. Then it dawned on me that the female plug is supposed to be attached to something solid back there. That would allow a one hand disconnect and a one hand reconnect.
Does anyone know where that plug is supposed to be attached?
Thanks,
Tom Koenig
Riverside, IL
'96 XLT stepside
2.3L 2wd automatic
Cool "no windows" Century cap
All in Henry Ford's favorite color - black
My truck had the attached plugs just dangling back there. I was able to wiggle my hand back there, get a finger on the locking clip and pull them apart. Then I thought "oh shit" how am I going to plug them back together. I can in no way get both of my hands back there. And I can't hold the female plug AND the male plug attached to the O2 AND snap them both together with one hand. I thought at that time who in the hell designed something like this.
Luckily I was able to call my son to come over and he was able to hold the female plug from above and I was able to push the male plug back in from under the truck. Also I had to leave the O2 sensor itself not screwed into the exhaust pipe because I just could get enough play in the wire to make the connecting "click". Once the connection was made I counter clockwise twisted the sensor the number of turns I though it would take to tighten it. When it was fully tightened into the pipe luckily the wires were fairly straight. It was about 5 turns.
Afterwards upon inspecting - in that very tight space - the connected plugs I noticed the two fish scale nipples (I don't know if that's what they're called) on the female plug. Then it dawned on me that the female plug is supposed to be attached to something solid back there. That would allow a one hand disconnect and a one hand reconnect.
Does anyone know where that plug is supposed to be attached?
Thanks,
Tom Koenig
Riverside, IL
'96 XLT stepside
2.3L 2wd automatic
Cool "no windows" Century cap
All in Henry Ford's favorite color - black
