1996 Chevy o2 Sensor Repair.
Amazon Affiliate Link to CRC 05110 Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner – 11 Wt Oz.:https://amzn.to/2KdFk6z
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Try this first. Before I spend my hard earned money on a o2 sensor, I always try this first. If I do need to spray something to help clean it, i use a mass air flow sensor cleaner. Be sure to let it dry completely before re-installing. Please click like and subscribe. Click on my name under the video for all my how-to videos,,,,enjoy.
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Could you not have soaked it in some carb or brake cleaner?
Do you have an obd scanner that supports live date to see its voltage fluctuation? If that was really sot not Zirconia this could be a permanent fix