Here's what i tried:
1. From underneath the car, I had the full size O2 sensor socket (2nd from left in pic) but it doesn't slide on because its so close to an oil line.
2. So I went out and bought the smaller slide on socket (3rd from left in pic) you can use with a 3/8" ratchet. No go, also from underneath the car there is barely any room to get my hands and the ratchet up from the bottom and when i did the ratchet kept swinging out of position. I tried sliding the socket on the O2 sensor then tried attaching the ratchet but it seemed like every angle i tried there was interference.
3. Next I bought the O2 sensor tool that IPD recommends (farthest left) thinking it would be perfect because of the 180 swivel and the bend on the handle would be clear the trans. No such luck, again from the underside of the car, i couldn't get it positioned where i could get any sort of swing on it.
4. Finally, from the top side i was able to barely get a 7/8" combo wrench with a small piece of fence post on the end and was able to get about 1/8 turn on it. You actually have to get the wrench on the O2 sensor from the passenger side where you can see it, then walk around to the passenger side and start pulling. Thats the firewall heat shield on the right side in pic 2. I repositioned the wrench and got another 1/8 or so and then was able to spin it out by hand from underneath.
What a hassle. How has everyone else tackled getting the sensor out? I feel like the O2 sensor tools i bought are nearly impossible to get positioned in the tight space to work.
