Car Fix DIY Videos

http://clublexus.com/how-tos is the leading Lexus IS, RX, ES, and GS resource for technical DIY guides. If your Lexus IS is experiencing rough idle or bad gas mileage, it may be time to replace the oxygen sensor. For the full step-by-step article, please visit http://www.clublexus.com/how-tos/a/lexus-is-how-to-replace-oxygen-sensor-362357

The role of the oxygen sensor is to check your Lexus’ exhaust and report exactly what the ideal air to fuel ratio should be for optimal performance. When this device starts getting it wrong, you might not have a check engine light to tell you. Knowing the signs of a bad sensor, like rough idle, engine pinging, increased vehicle emissions, and bad gas mileage, is a great help in getting the most often misdiagnosed part of your car corrected. The typical interval for its replacement is every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. You will want to pre-lube the sensors with a penetrating lubricant 12-24 hours prior to beginning.

This moderately difficult job takes about thirty minutes and costs $200 dollars to complete. Taking your Lexus to a repair shop will cost around $500 dollars.

This job requires WD-40 or other lubricant, a normal wrench with offset, special O2 sensor socket or special combo tool, anti-seize compound, and thread chaser.

Step One – Locate the oxygen sensor

The Lexus IS has a bank 1 and a bank 2 oxygen sensor. One is near the firewall and in front of the catalytic converter; the other is behind the converter closer to the rear. They should primarily be the same part, just different lengths of wiring. The bulb part is connected to the exhaust.

Step Two – Spray WD-40 generously on the bulb threads

Spraying the area with a penetrating lubricant 12-24 hours earlier to let it soak is recommended. The threads holding the sensor in the exhaust are in a harsh environment. Extreme heat plus cold causes the threads to expand and retract, allowing grime and road salts to get in there and lock it in tight.

Step Three – Use the special oxygen sensor socket and remove the bulb

After the lubricant has had time to penetrate the sensor bulb threads, put the special socket over the threads and break it free. Once you have loosened the bulb, finish removal by hand.

Step Four – Disconnect the quick clip wiring harness

There will be push-tabs that make removing the wiring harness very easy. Simply push in the tabs at the base and pull apart. The harness, along with the rest of the old sensor assembly, can now be removed.

Step Five – Install the new sensor bulb

Install the new sensor bulb first before you connect the new harness. This will prevent the wires from getting twisted. The new sensor may have come with anti-seize compound already on the threads or in a small pack to apply to the threads. If it doesn’t, you should find some anti-seize compound and apply it to the threads before installing the sensor. This will greatly help with removal should you need to replace this sensor again in the future.

Be very careful to not get any anti-seize compound on the bulb itself. Also be careful to not hit the bulb or let it touch the sides of the bunghole when you are inserting it.

Step Six – Connect the new harness to the quick connect clip

Make sure that you feel and hear it click into place.

Step Seven – Unplug the negative terminal from the battery

This step is optional if the check engine light is on. If you disconnect your battery for about 30 minutes, it should allow the vehicle computer to reset, which should clear the check engine light.