Honda Car Forum

I have a 97 Ford Taurus, how do you change the oxygen sensor and where is it located?

There are typically 2 O2 sensors on newer vehicles (post '90). One is located in the exhaust manifold or just after, the other is typically located after the catalytic converter.

It's on the exhaust manifold, it is removed and re-installed using a O2 socket which has a slot for the wires.

'96 and newer cars have OBD-II which has up to 3 oxygen sensors - 2 on the exhaust manifolds and one after the catalytic converter. Many times you get an O2 sensor error code and there's nothing wrong with the O2 sensors because the engine is running too rich or lean and the O2 sensors are simply indicating you have an engine problem of some sort. So unless the O2 sensors have a failed electric heater element or they otherwise test bad, why replace them? It's sometimes easy to strip the threads when trying to remove the O2 sensors, and then if you can't re-tap the threaded hole, you've got a headache on your hands. After disconnecting the electrical connector they simply unscrew, but getting to one on the rear manifold near the firewall (front wheel drive) won't be easy.