Help: Replacing O2 Sensor B on '97 Camry

[spec_v_24]

Hi, I did some searches on the forum but didn't find what I needed to know.
I need to replace the 2nd O2 sensor that is located just behind the catalytic converter. I know that the driver's seat needs to be removed to get to the harness.
I was wondering if once the seat is removed, where exactly is this harness underneath the carpet? Also, is there an actual plug on the harness underneath the carpet that the new O2 sensor just plugs right into or does the whole O2 sensor harness needs to be connected in the engine bay?
Any help would be great. Pictures would help greatly too.

thank you

[Mike Gerber]

First, you really don't have to remove the driver's seat. I know the manual says that, but you can access the electrical connector inside the car from under the seat it by moving the seat all the way forward and pushing the carpet away from the vent on the floor for the rear passenger's feet. That is where the electrical connector is. When you have seperated the 2 halves of the connector, tie a piece of wire or a fairly thick piece of twine to the connector portion on the sensor and pull it out from underneath the car. Be sure to leave some of the twine inside the car. Now remove the O2 sensor from the exhaust pipe. You will need an O2 sensor socket or a 22MM open end wrench. I would spray down the threads of the old O2 sensor as best you can with some good penetrating oil like PB Blaster and wait just a bit. Once the old sensor is out, attach the electrical connector to the piece of twine that should still be inside the car and pull it back through the hole inside the car. Screw in the new sensor and then reattach the electrical connector to it's mating part inside the car. If you don't use the trick of attaching a long piece of wire or twine to the old electrical connector before pulling it out from underneath the car, it is very difficult to push the connector from the new sensor back inside the car.

Mike

[spec_v_24]

thanks for the information Mike.

[healthguyfsu]

This was some great advice and I used it to do this for the first time without a manual. I'm only slightly more than useless when it comes to my car so you know that your directions are helpful.

I would say that with the twine just make sure you are very liberal with how long you make the slack. I made mine long enough but it was a little too tight and it ended up snapping. I still managed to get the cord through in only a minute or two but it would have been easier with the twine.

Also, the directions were a little confusing as to whether it was in the carpet in the driver's side or passenger's side as in some Toyotas it is in the passenger side. In my 97 Camry LE it was definitely in the driver's side. A few google images helped alot too like the one below.

This pic I've just linked shows a wire on the passenger side but the wire is definitely on the driver's side in the 97 Camry LE. You can also verify by when you jack up the car and see if the wire is going into a hole closer to driver's or passenger's side. (Also, my wire is gray not yellow)

http://www.photodump.org/stored30/O2_sensor_rear_2.jpg