# Oxygen Sensors

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/oxygen-sensors/15465>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** sensors\
**Created:** [June 17, 2008, 11:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oxygen-sensors/15465 "2008-06-17T11:45:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jbusader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eada6e/32.png) [@jbusader](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jbusader)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 11:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oxygen-sensors/15465/1 "2008-06-17T11:45:51Z")

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I have a 1998 Explorer (6 cyl, 2wd) and my upstream oxygen sensors are going bad. Is this something a novice can change? Are there any special tools needed? If so, how do I go about changing this? Any info on this would be appreciated?

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 11:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oxygen-sensors/15465/2 "2008-06-17T11:57:43Z")

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Yes, this can often be a simple DIY job provided you have easy access to the sensors. If so it is just a bolt-off, bolt-on operation. No special tools are required, but a special oxygen sensor socket can simplify matters. A set of such sockets is available free from Advance Auto’s Loan-a-Tool program. See here:

[http://www.autozone.com/in\_our\_stores/loan\_a\_tool/exhaust/oxygen\_sensor\_wrench\_set.htm](http://www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/exhaust/oxygen_sensor_wrench_set.htm)

If your O2 sensors are in a hard-to-access location, if your vehicle needs to go on a lift for access, you may be better off letting a shop handle the job.