OK got a problem, need some answers or advice.
I was installing my header/DP/test pipe this past weekend and had trouble getting the bolts off the cat area. So I figured I could just take the exhaust off from the stock downpipe all the way back to the muffler, then just lay it all on the ground to get better leverage on the bolts I couldn't get off. Well, I also couldn't get the o2 sensor off that is right in front of the cat. So after hours of trying, I ended up cutting the wires to the sensor because it went up into the car and had no way to unplug it. I figured I could just reattach the wires after it was all back on. Well after pulling on the o2 sensor with the exhaust on the ground, I finally got it off and it had been cross threaded into the bung so now I can't screw it back in at all. I'm assuming Mitsu cross-threaded it when I took it in to get that recall done on the cat. So now I have that bung plugged and the car runs fine but drinks gas like crazy. It goes through a quarter tank of gas in about 45-50 miles on the highway, even worse in town.
So questions here:
-Overall, how much will it cost to have mitsu replace the sensor for me (keep in mind the wires are cut so they'd have to get a whole new sensor in)?
-Does autozone carry those sensors?
-How hard would it be to replace the sensor because I don't know where it goes to in the car?
-Where does the sensor run to in the car?

 

it runs to underneath the passenger seat... replacing is pretty easy at that point, you just need a 4 wire O2 sensor. You can solder the wires back together and if your sensor isnt bad, it can be reused. Its not hard to retap a hole. Take it to a local shop. Im not sure who else would have a tap that size.

 

OK cool, also I forgot to ask, once I resolder it back together, will it still work fine if it's done right? When I told someone else about it he said it wouldn't work again once you cut the wires.
Good to know though, cause the sensor works fine.
Forgot to add, the hole isn't the problem, the thread on the sensor is all jacked up. I heard you could try to file down the messed up part of the threads. Thanks for the quick help.

 

you can retap those threads as well... and yes you can resolder it, and the sensor will work fine. just need to find a die that big ..... you can try this.... get yourself an O2 bung and send the sensor thru there... it will be rough, but it should help straighten the threads out maybe. I would try to find a die that size though.

 

OK, yeah I know someone that has a tap and die set and I'm sure he has the right size. And just to make sure, it is that sensor missing that is crapping out my gas mileage right? All I did was put on a header, downpipe, and test pipe. Which the test pipe is also being replaced this week with a high flow cat because it's way to loud.

 

in your case you will be happier buying a new sensor. plug and play. you can get them on the web. less than 80.

 

who knows... but if it was fine before, and this is the only thing you changed that gave you problems, chances are this is your problem

 

Yeah I figured the o2 sensor makes sure everything coming out of the engine is right and doesn't know so it's adding more gas.

 

the car will run a bit more rich if the CEL is on (which it is because of the O2 sensor), it's kind of a safe mode. you shouldn't have any issues once you solder the wires. get some heat shrink on there over the solder as well.

i may have the same issue but i said screw it and went with the old capacitor and resistor wired into the second O2 sensor and bye bye CEL. i never was able to get the sensor out and only ended up rounding it off so now it's NEVER coming out.

 

lol that sounds a little cheaper and more simple. Found out today, autozone has a plug and play sensor for that spot, for $412. **** that. Oreily's has a universal bosch 4 wire sensor for $76 but the wires are different colors than stock. Mine a 2 blacks, a blue, and white i think. This new one has a black grey, and whites. So I think I'll end up getting that. But atilla, just in case, or maybe just to try it out, how do I do the capacitor and resistor trick? Expensive? Thanks.
Also, I took out the passenger seat, can't find the wire, then again, I didn't pull up the carpet, but I can't find it through the slit cut under the seat in the carpet. It looks like it goes into the car up under the dash more.

 

the site i bought mine from isn't around anymore unfortunately... some evo guys swore by this device and the wires were even color coded. i got that one and it worked perfectly. their page WAS at http://www.mileliminatorsonline.com

the wires are up front more under the dash and close to the center console under the carpet. i tore out my seat as well and then my friend showed me "hey, it's right here". haha.

you can probably score a eliminator device off ebay for cheap. mine ran me less than $12 shipped and it's worth it. i have found diagrams to make your own but i never was able to find a diagram that was %100 proven and tested.

for universal and OEM O2 sensors check out: http://www.automedicsupply.com/index...80&height=1024

 

haha, I say go for the $412 one.... lets just retap the old one and try that for now its free. lol hope we can find it, its somewehre in the garage.

 

yep... im pretty sure id just retap the old one, solder it and try her out.... it is free and may take 45 minutes

 

Alright, we'll see if we can reuse the old one. I'll try it out this weekend. If not, I'll check out the universal one from Oreilly's to see how hard it would be to figure out how to wire it up.
So for the plug, do you have to take the carpet out? Or is it just under the center console around where the cig lighter is?

 

its under the seat