Changing O2 sensor on '03 Accord

Just some observations.

I have been getting an intermittent code of P0141, which indicated that
I needed to address the secondary heated O2 sensor. The Helms manual
specifies a number of tests to perform, but lacking some of the specific
tools and the majority of the electrical knowledge to use them, I opted
to replace the sensor.

This took me just over an hour, as I had to put my car up on jackstands,
and then be very meticulous about each step. The actual work only took
a few minutes, and the whole process would probably only take me 15
minutes if I had to do it again.

The first step is removal of the front seat. There are four bolts to
take out. The single thing that took me the longest was removing a
plastic clip holding the seatbelt sensor, so that I could take the seat
completely out. This part of the job isn't mentioned anywhere I looked,
so I thought I'd mention it here.

The rest of the job is pretty simple and straightforward, and didn't
take long at all.

I saw the requisite tool (Snap-on YA8875) for sale for thirty dollars or
so, but found an offset O2 sensor wrench at AutoZone for $10 that worked
just fine. The sensor itself cost me $60, shipping included.

My local dealer gets $350 to do this job.

Happy Holidays.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen

 

Why does the Front Seat have to come out?

G-Man

 

that's got me wondering,too!

 

The sensor cable runs through an opening in the floor of the car, and
connects via a 4-pin connector to interior wiring. That connection is
under the carpeting, and essentially impossible to get to without
complete removal of the seat. (I originally thought that I might be
able to get to it by removing the front bolts, loosening the rear bolts,
and leaning the seat back, but no such luck.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen