Replaced my O2 sensors this afternoon. Driver's side - a breeze, broke it lose, threaded in the new one with some anti-seize little grease on the plug - done in 10 minutes.

Passenger side PITA! Even with an offset 22mm socket, there is about 4" of space. Cut wires off and went to a straight 22mm long socket. Took over an hour and multiple combinations of ratchets, extensions, bars to get it lose. Finally get it out (do the happy dance), thread the new one on finger tight and move onto the electrical plug. Another 30 minutes trying to get it unhooked reaching blind above the transmission, finally get it out (happy dance again) - plug the new outlet in and here is where I go wrong......

Hook the battery cable back up and start my truck. Hop out to look and listen and see a huge plume of white smoke pouring out passenger side front of truck. Think *^#$ I forgot to tighten that passenger sensor, shut truck off (maybe ran for a full minute). Grab my socket and climb under truck - burn snot out of right forearm reaching up to get socket on - didn't think it would be that hot after 1 minute. Stop go get long arm gloves, go back and tighten the sensor. Start the truck again, all white smoke now gone. Whew, let it run for awhile.

Get my scanner out and scan it for codes and get P0153, look it up and am not shocked to learn it's an O2 code for slow response. Clear the code, start truck again, let it run awhile, test it again, same code back. Wait 30 minutes (so I don't burn the arm again) check sensors one last time tighten passenger one more turn, and give outlets one more good squeeze. Clear the codes, check again, now gone no codes.

Ok so know that's long post, but am I good? Or did I mess something up starting my truck with an o2 sensor half screwed in?

And the moral of the story is Manifold and Y Pipes get hot very quickly don't touch them!

 

Hope your arm doesn't blister

Cool the burn. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with cold compresses. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Don't put ice on the burn.
Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage. Don't usefluffy cotton, or other material that may get lint in the wound. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the burn, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 2, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

 

Thanks for the tips. Cold water for most of the evening last night, only one small blister in the middle this morning, covered it in burn cream and non stick gauze and I think I am good to go.

 

There is no way you could have damaged the O2 sensor by having it screwed in part way to trigger that code. Perhaps the O2 sensor was not very well grounded until you tightened down? If it pops up again then I would seriously consider taking that one back to the store for a warranty replacement. What brand of O2 sensor did you install?

 

Motorcraft sensors, and I think maybe I didn't have the connection tight on the wire. When I checked a second time and gave it another good squeeze I felt a click. Since then no codes, runs great.

 

Excellent

 

I got a 12" 02 sensor extension for the next time.. It will be easy to change then.