hi all. anyone with experience replacing the o2 senor on a 2000? i'm over the 85k mark and want to replace them before the check engine lite comes on[with the mandated computer diagnostic hookup]. the price varies a lot and i don't want to save money on a universal sensor only to spend money down the road. so, any advice would be appreciated. thanks, tomt

 

I heard bosch makes a real good O2 sensor bung for like 40 Bones.

 

if they work just fine right now, why change em?

 

its a time limited item,and it fails in use the "check engine light" comes on and the required state law mandated computer check is expensive thanks for the input tomt.

 

sure its a time limited item. but how long? ive seen some factory o2 sensors last well over 200,000 miles.
i see no point in changing it unless its bad or going bad. if it falls within the oem specs, then dont bother replacing it.

if it fails, yeah, you will set the check engine light. thats when you replace the sensor, reset the ecu, and drive it around just as normal. i dont see why the cost of the safety/emissions check was even mentioned, as its not something that you have to do anytime the CEL pops on...

 

O2 sensor replacement even if not setting a check engine light can be bad. Check engine light won't come on till the engine sould be exceeding emission by 150%. So if you have access to a scanner you can check what are called cross counts and see if the O2 sensonr is switching the engine lean to rich fairly rapidly. If a little slow it can also bring back gas milage. My moms car improved more than 25% and it did not set off a code for the longest time and then finally a sporatic code that would clear itself. So at your indicated milage not necessarily a waste especially if milage is starting to suffer.

Obviously plugs and wires should be done first.