My dealer told me I needed to replace my O2 sensor. The cost quoted was $400/each. They suggested replacing both, though, only one was giving me a CEL. The manager said if one failed, the other would fail soon. ....seem to push me a bit into doing it, so I'm not sure if that's true.

The light came on twice before, but the mechanic cleared it, and it came back after about 9 months each time. This 3rd time, the light came on 1 day after, so i 'assume' it's going bad. The car runs fine, however. ...plus, it's do for an inspection.

Aside from a serious audio system, the only mods I've done are the Fabspeed exhaust and the Fabspeed cold air kit. I thought that could cause it as well.

So...is $800 fair for both?!? BTW, I'm in NY....Long Island and have a '02 C4 cab w/ 50K miles.

Thanks for any advice...


PS - Anyone know an independent mechanic in NY area?

 

sensors are around $259 each. Installation is not that complicated but you have to get under the rear bumper and they are right there on the cats. unscrew old ones and replace with new ones. It may sound more easy than what's really involved with (stuck sensors) but it sounds expensive at $800 for 2 sensors.

 

Yeah this a pretty easy job. If you can't do it, maybe you could find a mechanic to do it on the side. Anyone with mechanic experience/knowledge should be able to perform this. It's a really quick process if they come right off.

You might as well just replace both, especially if someone else is doing it. I'd crawl under the car and take a look, see if it's something you think you can do. Not sure the size but a wrench and some WD40 will do the job.

 

Check out www.autohausaz.com/index.html. They sell Bosch o2 sensors for $123 for the fronts and $161 for the rears. I have bought a bunch of parts from them...fast shipping. Good luck

 

What code was the CEL? Many dealers only know how to replace parts without properly diagnoising anything. Get the codes before giving them the go ahead.

 

also check out www.fastforwardparts.com - free shipping over $100.

 

They are using OEM by-the-book parts, and don't shop around... meaning they are probably paying around 200 or 250 a sensor, which puts you in the 5 to 6 hundred range in parts, and i think NY shop rates are around 150 ish an hour, so 800 is right on at the dealership for this sorta' thing.

As others have posted, if you are handy you can tackle it yourself for around 3 or 4 hundred though, just hope your o2's break free easily. And yes, you should replace both while you're at it.

 

Thanks for everyone's responses. The code is P0430....and I remember the mechanic saying it was an aging O2 sensor. The only thing I do notice - not sure if it has anything to do with this - is when starting, it sometimes hesitates.

Thanks.

 

I'm not positive, but that code indicates a bad CAT and not a bad sensor. If you have no other codes, CAT is the problems which is a warranty item.

 

If your taking it to the dealer in Huntington be careful the service manager is a crook . Get another price.

 

Actually, it's Freeport (South Shore) and the service manager told me he came over from Huntington. I do, however, like Tom...the head mechanic over there. I need to find an independent mechanic since I'm out of warranty.