P1130,1135 Bank 1 Sensor 1 removal

[DOT3]

What's the best way to get to the Bank 1 Sensor 1 sensor for removal? This is the one in the exhaust mainfold next to the firewall. I'm getting 1130 1135 CEL.

Is there a special tool? Do you attack it from under the vehicle? I've tried from above and it's not budging.

[preacherzson]

From my own saga with this sensor...
1. apparently, it's best to take it out when it's hot...Yeah, I know. Contradictory to every safety measure you can think of, but having the sensor at operating temp or at least heated up is supposed to help. I know I had to practically jump up and down on my wrench to finally get any movement.

2. Speaking of wrenches... I got the socket set and the special bent handled wrench from Autozone...and proceeded to strip the threads in my pipe.GRRR. To be fair, I can't definitively say whether that was operator error in using the tools (e.g. I suck), operator error in removing the sensor at the wrong temp (e.g. my timing sucks), or tool failure (e.g. the tools suck). What I have seen is that various other forums disparage using the "special tools" and suggest using a flare ended (?) wrench. I finally got my sensor out using an 12pt box wrench and a ton of elbow grease. I started from the bottom and finished from the top. I take solace in knowing the oldies but goodies tools got the job done....despite the collateral damage.

3. If you should strip yours out, shop around for people to rethread or chase the bung. My local Midas did it for the cost of an hour's labor.

Good luck!

[DOT3]

Too late for all the positive thinking.

I put a 22 mm box end wrench on it and it froze up after 3/4 turn. Took it to the dealer and they finished stripping the threads and had to remove the manifold to extract the sensor and rethread and chase the manifold.

$1200 ouch