How to Replace an Oxygen Sensor in a 2001 VW Jetta

This is so you can change the O2 sensor in you VW Jetta, Remember these can be a pain in the rear to do.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oxgen sensor wrench or socket.
• Wd-40
• New O2 sensor
• Lots of patience
• Anti-Seize compound
• Jack stands
• Jack
• Leather Gloves
• Optional, Solder, soldering iron, heatshrink

1. Have all your tools together and at the ready for when it comes time to change your sensor. First things is to take your vehicle out and run it hard. The idea behind this is to get the exhaust system as hot as possible. This will ease the removal of the old O2 sensor

2. Next step is to raise the vehicle up to a comfortable height, and place it on jack stands for safety. Check that the car isn't going to move while your under it. Most modern cars can have up to four O2 sensors now, The process of changing them is the same however.

3. Locate your O2 sensors, It helps to have a scanner to diagnose which one has gone bad. The upstream O2 sensors are the ones before the cat converter, the down stream ones are the ones after the cat convector.

4. Put your gloves on first, The part you are about to work on is going to be slightly warm. Spray some WD-40 on the sensor first and wait ten minutes before trying to apply any force to it. Theses sensors are very easy to snap into two pieces.

5. Unplug the sensor first, then apply your wrench or socket to the sensor. remember lefty loosy, righty tighty. Slowly apply pressure until it breaks loose and is turn easily.

6. Continue to work it out until it's been removed. If your new sensor has to be splice in to the old wiring harness, it's best to make the new connections with solder and heat shrink, this will insure for a good connection. Take your new sensor and apply some anti-seize compound to the threads of the new one,

7. Slowly and gently work the new sensor into place, You don't want to strip out the threads because you were impatient. Continue to tighten the new sensor into place until it stops, Do not apply more force after it has seated. Connect the new sensors wire harness to the proper connector.

8. Once this has been done, remove the negative battery cable to reset the computer to the new sensor. You have completed replacing your sensor.

9. If you have broken your sensor off or the sensor will not come out, take your car to your mechanic to have them replace it. Your mechanic will have the proper tools to replace the sensor.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes Heat is needed to remove the sensors
• Always consult your repair guide.
• Have help if you are unsure.
• Be paitent, Know what you are doing before attempting to do it.
• WARNING!!! EXHAUST SYSTEMS ARE INSAINLY HOT, Don't try to grab on to it with bare hands, you will end up with third degree burns and a trip to the doctors.
• If something isn't right, take you vehicle to a qualified mechanic.