Primary oxygen sensor

[Zuluwun]

Had the dealer check a CEL. They didn't tell me what the code was exactly but they said that my oxygen sensor is dead/has failed.

The part number I was told is LF28-18-861A. I assume that the correct name is the primary oxygen sensor (since there's a secondary apparently).

I was quoted $150+tax parts and labour, but I think I can install this thing myself. A reliable source pointed out where it is under the hood. Can someone confirm that and if possible give me an idea of how difficult it'd be to replace myself?

My source pointed to the brass lookin plug in the centre of the picture with the black lead. Is that the O2 sensor? and what do I need to remove/replace it?

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2374/photokq.jpg

[Thrizzl3]

why not just go to street performance?

[bubba1983]

can you turn a wrench? thats all you need..
its a 2min job....
or if you wanna get fancy parts source or canadian tire rent a tool progra has 02 sensor sockets you can use to do it properly

unscrew the old one....screw in the new one....just make sure the threads aregood before putting the new one back in, or you may need a thread chaser just to clean up the threads....also sometimes...you may need to heat it up to remove the sensor

[Zuluwun]

why not just go to street performance?

Dealer offered to pay half since he can't prove the problem started after I took delivery. Besides, if it's as simple as bubba1983 says, then screw it (no pun intended), I'll do it myself.

I was hoping it'd be that easy. Is that the right part that I'm looking at, though?

[TheMAN]

it's common on these cars to have seized O2 sensors... so beware..... lots of PB blaster soaked overnight first, then use an O2 socket to take it off... no way to get a wrench in there because of all the heat shielding in the way!
don't buy an aftermarket, they're nothing but trouble!

[mtull394]

Ugh! My o2 sensor needs to be replaced to. Where did you get quoted $150+tax. One of the Mazda dealers I called told me $215 for just the part. I wouldn't mind just picking up the part and doing it myself.

[sol_searchin]

I've always done this when replacing O2 sensor's, go for a nice long ride ( highway preferred!) get it real hot, than grab an O2 socket and slide it on and twist away. The heat, heat's up the thread's so it's an easy removal/install. If you don't like working around heat than spray the O2 sensor area with a penetrant and give her a good turn ( use a rachet + pipe on the end for leverage). Very simple job. If your going the aftermarket route, make sure you get a NTK/NGK O2 sensor, don't get a bosch.

[Zuluwun]

Ugh! My o2 sensor needs to be replaced to. Where did you get quoted $150+tax. One of the Mazda dealers I called told me $215 for just the part. I wouldn't mind just picking up the part and doing it myself.

Maple Mazda offered to give me the part at cost because the CEL had been a problem since I picked up the car. Basically, it was on when I picked it up so I asked them about it. They took it into their shop cleared it and said it was nothing "it happens after e-testing sometimes". Anyway, it came back a couple days later and that was that. If you can make it to MOT, I hear that Joe is the guy to talk to for parts

[mtull394]

I'll definitely give MOT a call tomorrow. :thumbsup

and in terms of location of the sensor, i was told on the manifold?
not to sure about that brass piece in your picture

[bubba1983]

in the pic that is the sensor people! it is on the manifold....what you see which may confuse everyone here, its the head sheilding on the manifold itself...

[mtull394]

yaa, took a look under my hood today. you were right. sorry about the confusion :bang