Adventures with The Great Ethan Allen And Silver Bullet Subie. The Changing of the Oxygen Sensors.

Oxygen sensor location

O2 Sensor removal tool

I have to admit,  this entire thing made me nervous.  Every time I attempt something that has never been done before ( by Me)  on the Subaru, I feel a little apprehension.  I lack the tools and confidence... mostly the tools, to take on projects that are tough or complicated.   If a bolt breaks, or a part is frozen into place,  I'm sunk.... and so is Subie.

I'm not sure what bad looks like, but this might be it.

And so it goes with that pesky O2 Sensor.   Subie has been stalling at key moments when I try to make left turns (usually in front of a very big truck!) and at fuel ups.   Today, however,  he stalled when we got off the highway.   ( something new.   And scary!)  I have been Stalling by putting the O2 sensor replacement on a back burner even though I have the parts have have thoroughly researched the installation process.

So why am I so Chicken?    Couple of things.   One: The part requires I get under the car.   I lack car jacks, so I ended up using cinder blocks for support.  In case you know even less than I do,   these are not the best things to support your car with.   I know this and did it anyway, which makes me a candidate for a Darwin Award if the darn thing came crashing down on top of me.

Compare. Which one looks better?

Old plug left all the "white parts" inside the female Plug.

Then there is the plugs, electronics, breaking the sensor free, and possibility of damaging something that is not broke.   I have done all of these things at one time or another.  Usually because I did not have the proper tool and was attempting a "work around".  (Or was too stupid to know my own limitations.....)


But, Surprisingly! it all worked out.  I managed to prop up the car without squashing myself,  I removed the tire and was able to access the front 02 sensor and break it free.   Easy!

New O2 sensor installed.

The slight hiccup happened when the plug would not fit.   After several choice words,  a minor fit, a sudden downpour of rain, and a grain of sand in my eye,   I finally figured out that the "guts" of the last plug were stuck inside the female end,  preventing the new plug from seating properly.   One needle nose pliers  surgery later and I was back in business.

Time for the back O2 sensor.

Slightly different.  No problem? 

Then there was the rear O2 sensor.   Slightly more challenging to get it loose, but I managed it.  I was a little concerned that the actual parts did not match up identically,  But the NAPA guys says that should not matter. ( we shall see about that.)

At least the "Pig Tails" match.

No "Check Engine" light!

So,  time for a test run,   Reassemble everything, start up Subie, and take it around the block.   Check Engine Light is GONE! YEAH!

In celebration, we head out for a victory Sundae.  And  half way to Kalona, the Check engine light returns.

Ice Cream!

Yumm!

It's Back!  Like a bad rash.... but at least Subie Runs better.

The good news is,  No stalling,  And we have eliminated 5 codes by changing the O2 Sensors.  Only a P0030 Code remains and we may have to hunt that one down later. Maybe I simply have to wiggle the plugs, who knows.   As long as the O2 Sensors have been replaced and Subie runs without stalling,  I'm OK with it.

The Wonders of Dementia.

Ever wonder what it would be like to be crazy?   Nothing "bad" mind you, but rather a tamer, "mostly harmless" version of insanity.   Like those old ladies that chase butterflies in the fictitious garden within their living room. Ah butterflies.....so pretty.

Ahem,  yes!  Well, ever wonder how those people found that "Happy Kind of Crazy"?   Perhaps it was a lost love, a broken heart, or traumatic war event that opened that gate in their mind where all the bright colors are alive and vivid.  Everything is cute and cuddly...the animals talk,  the people are nice,  the flowers are always in bloom.....with butterflies...lots of butterflies.  

Well,  there are moments when I wish I could be swept away from the tragedies that happen on this planet, but alas.....I have a college education that forbids me from going there.  Why do smart people have to suffer so...? ( not that I'm very smart....just "aware")   What could have possibly caused this line of thinking within me?    We heard back from the car doctor....Subie will require some MAJOR surgery.

Turns out Subie's  "'sode"  was more like a full blown heart attack!   Not one where you require a transplant...( Although that was an offered option) but one that requires some valves and gaskets replaced...along with a timing belt, water pump and a couple of stitches.   In the end...take the highest number you can imagine it costing...and add 50% more....Yeah!   THAT kind of crazy.

Ah well,   we love Subaru.  What are you going to do?   It's not like it is a child in the 1800's.   We have too much invested to bury it and start over.  Cheryl informs me that the financing is "doable" but it's going to seriously hurt.   Looks like PBJ sandwiches for the next month or so.   And it is going to take longer than expected....Thursday.   We have a  race this weekend...and if we can pull it off....well, I guess things won't be as bad as I "imagine"....   (My imagination is kind of "dark")  The bright side is that we will have the "major repair" all done and out of the way for years to come....Years!    Hopefully.    200,000 miles baby...Yeah!   Now, where are those butterflies?

On a brighter note....if you can call it that.   ETS has offered me Texas STARR for the 9 days I will be between SAT administration...which means I can work more...yeah!   And make more money...yeah!    So I can pay off the Subster's auto repair....Yeah!

It was just ...one of those days!

Yep, it started out ok, packed up the seats and delivered them to UPS. Then, While parking at our usual lunch spot, Cheryl noticed a rather large "bulge" along the side of the tire. A couple of weeks ago, we hit a pothole and lost our hubcap. But the tire seemed intact so I just made sure the air was proper and called it a relatively harmless incident. Now, Cheryl is the kind of person that does not notice FLAMES coming from under the hood! So when she notices something and mentions it to me, I'm instantly panicked! SO... My bright idea: lets go home, and change the tire with the spare. In the light, near the tools, near the heat. Sounds good, right? You probably know the punch line! First, I could not find the handle to the jack. Then the spare tire is FROZEN to the car. ( I'm still baffled on how that much ice got in there to surround the spare) It snowed ( not much, but just enough) it got colder ( not much, but just enough) We still needed to go out for an elongated seat, So with the new spare on, we go out. 15 miles from home, the store does not have the seat, and the spare tire goes flat on the highway, in the dark, cold, snow! No problem, ( I'm in denial at this point) there is a gas station just next exit. We'll inflate the tire be good as new. Of coarse! the air hose is out of order! By this time I'm insane! The spare now has the tire popped off the rim and I end up putting the bulging old tire back on. In the cold, ( by now, very cold) windy ( now it's windy!) snow ( its REALLY snowing now) And it is dark! So the seat will have to wait till Monday and I will spend tomorrow getting the old tire AND the spare fixed. As for the rest of the night, I'm going to sit really still and try not to breath!