HELP! How to get to left after cat O2 sensor off?

[dammad]

I've changing my O2s (100k on them and finally got a ODBII code). All of the O2 sensors were fine to change, except the last. The left hand O2 that is after the cat from the right bank seems impossible to access. There seems to be less space than the right hand side. I tried my offset and over-the-top sockets but they don't give me enough leverage/access to get it loose.

Help! I've read the forums that say its a 15min job, but perhaps my 1999 996 (standard exhaust) is more difficult. Seems to be no room between the other cat and the engine to get any tool on it.

Dammad.

Edited November 30, 2008 by dammad

[GranburyChuck]

I've changing my O2s (100k on them and finally got a ODBII code). All of the O2 sensors were fine to change, except the last. The left hand O2 that is after the cat from the right bank seems impossible to access. There seems to be less space than the right hand side. I tried my offset and over-the-top sockets but they don't give me enough leverage/access to get it loose.

Help! I've read the forums that say its a 15min job, but perhaps my 1999 996 (standard exhaust) is more difficult. Seems to be no room between the other cat and the engine to get any tool on it.

Dammad.

Hey Dammad, I did the job on my 2000 model a couple of weeks ago. Took me about an hour overall. I did remove the airbox on my car to make it easier to get to. I ended up using a 22 mm open end wrench on both the inside ones (don't remember if that is after or before cat but they are the two more internal ones). It was pretty easy with that wrench although I was concerned about stripping the head off. Found they came out pretty easily. I have both a short and long O2 sensor wrench. There was no way I could maneuver either of those to the inside sensors. Incidentally, I changed the O2 sensors out because I had been consistently getting P0420, 0430 and one 1275? The code was gone for about 1 tank of gas. Thanksgiving eve they (P0420 and 0430 came back). I am guessing that I need to change the cats out as well now since all of the O2 sensors are new. Have you looked for new cats?

[dammad]

Thanks for the feedback.. In the end (after sacrificing some knuckle skin to car) it came off. In case others read this, the trick was to use a offset OS wrench and whack it at an angle down through the gap in front of the engine to get it to shift.

Haven't looked at new cats. Although with 120k on the clock I may need to soon.