I have known for a long time that the KIA needs new O2 censors. Is it a difficult part to replace? I have no idea where the heck they go and I know that a few of you have worked on Optimas and I am thinking about fixing them. Any advice and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. -X
They are screwed into one of the exhaust pipes directly off the motor. Sometimes they can be a real treat to replace because of their location and they rust and weld themselves into place. I have replaced a few in my time, some are simple and in a easy to reach spot, others, you need to be triple jointed with arms and hands the size of a new born baby to get at them. As for your particular car, I am not sure, I have never had the pleasure or maybe its dis-pleasure of doing much with one but changing the oil and tires on one.
I've heard that some newer vehicles have multiple O2 sensors, some on the cat converter too. They're usually a tough part to get out because of heat and rust. I always spray it good with PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench at least a few hours before trying to turn it. I also always use a long breaker bar. Not for leverage to snap the thing off, but so I can turn lightly with lots of control. If it doesn't want to go, it sometimes helps to run the engine a bit to warm up the manifold to increase the clearances, and then try to turn it (but don't burn yourself). When it starts to go, take your time and work it back and forth to make sure it stays free. And when you put the new one in, make sure to use high temp anti-seize (some already have the threads coated right out of the box).
Good advice X. Just like changing a spark plug but under the car rather than under the hood. Don't even try it without using the PB Blaster or other rust remover spray. Stop at your friendly NAPA store and ask them to show you pictures of what it looks like and where it is. Or just sell that thing and forget it!
They're pretty easy. Unplug the wire and put a tight fitting box wrench (the box end on the sensor) a couple whacks with a hammer and they loosen right up. Newer cars usually have cats in the manifold and a sensor right before it as well as one after the cat under the car. v6 and v8 cars might have one on each manifold.
I am not sure anymore that I will do it. We shouldn't have it for long, anyways. This car does for sure have more than 1 O2 censor and if they are where it sounds like they are then it is currently something just a little outside of my means to do at the time. I was just trying to figure out if it is something that I really want to do or just not worry about. Thanks all for the help.
Okay... It is looking more and more like we are going to be taking the car with us to Chicago. Even then we aren't sure we are going to sell it. Perfectly fine with me. I would love to have the money from the sale but I would rather have a car. So, to the point. I have found out that my car has a downdraft o2 sensor and an updraft o2 sensor. One is more expensive and that bad o2 sensors cause gas mileage problems. I think that Blackfoot is right as to one being around the exhaust manifold. I might be able to do this one as there is actually some room there for my scrawny arms to fit. IO still haven't found out where the other one is yet. I am also getting mixed results as to the price for these things. One moment its like $35-$40 each and the next one is $50 and the other is like $100. I would very much rather just buy the part, some beer, and spend the evening getting dirty under the hood, but if this is something beyond my current skills then it is time to make an appointment with my very trustworthy mechanic... 2003 KIA Optima LX 4cyl, automatic with sports mode. It is he base model.
Most of the work will probably be done laying on the cold wet ground on your back reaching up with those scrawny arms. If you've ever changed spark plugs you have an idea of what to do. Only you will need some PB blaster, WD-40, or other similar rust buster stuff to desolve the rust around the bung where it is screwed to the exhaust pipe . I'm using techniqal terms here so bear with me. If you know a very nice person who works for an automotive parts house, maybe a friendly NAPA guy, he may be able to tell you what these O 2 thingies cost. Prices should be close everywhere in the USA, even Joplin!
I'm looking on the NAPA website as we speak... um, type... Since Dewey is hard at work on the Shwag at the moment, I;m sure... That is a lot of greasing stuff. I have some WD-40. Part of all this is dependent which one is cheaper and its location...
Here's some service bulletins I found if you want to look up the numbers. Maybe some of this stuff will get fixed free. Doubt it but...who knows? 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10016851 Bulletin Date: 20-Dec-2004 FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER ENHANCED DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR FOR P0446/P2422. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10000260 Bulletin Date: 20-Oct-2002 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY SRS INDICATOR ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 9-3 OR DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE REPLACEMENT. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10001679 Bulletin Date: 20-May-2003 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE CHARGING SYSTEM CHANGES TO IMPROVE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SEVERE OPERATING CONDITIONS. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10002355 Bulletin Date: 20-May-2003 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE OPTIMA CHARGING SYSTEM - V6 ENGINE. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10009700 Bulletin Date: 20-Jul-2004 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE O2 SENSOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE UPGRADE. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10017768 Bulletin Date: 20-Oct-2005 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING HESITATION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER AN INITIAL COLD START. ECM REPROGRAMMING/UPGRADE. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10004657 Bulletin Date: 20-Sep-2003 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM RECEIVER-DRIVER ON 2003MY OPTIMA MODELS PRODUCED FROM 11/14/02 THROUGH 4/16/03. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10009310 Bulletin Date: 20-Jan-2002 VISIBILITYEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:CO AIR QUALITY SYSTEM. KIA TECH TIMES. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10015272 Bulletin Date: 20-Jan-2005 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AN IMPROVED TIMING BELTS FOR THE KIA RIO AND OPTIMA. *TT 2003 KIA OPTIMA NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10004658 Bulletin Date: 20-Sep-2003 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER SERVICE LETTERS TO DEALERS AND OWNERS AND QUESTIONNAIRE REGARDING AIR CONDITIONING RECEIVER-DRIER REPLACEMENT. *TT
Danged! Been planning this road trip to help dewey and forgot he's supposed to be disassembing the old interior as we speak---type! Don't bother him Xavier. We've got him right where we want him. I didn't realize we can check the NAPA parts prices..... Another maybe cheaper place is rockauto.com ---Even with shipping they are fairly fast and reasonable.
Well I finally got prices from NAPA for the o2 sensors. Upstream $60 + tax Downstream $56.19 + tax One is in front of the converter and one is behind the converter. I assume they are referring to the catalytic converter. I have no idea where that is.?.
It's on the front of the exhaust pipe. Looks like a muffler with a heat shield. Should be easy to get to. Did you see my prior post?
Thanks for your help, guys. We both really appreciate it. Someday I might actually be able to return the favour. I am trying to gather as much info as possible by tonight so that we can make a decision as to how we are going to do this. Fox. I just noticed your post and I think that it may come in helpful. When I was stupid enough last year to take the Kia to the Kia dealership I had the recalls taken care of but I didn't hear anything about those. I'm surprised too, because, oh wait no I'm not. They don't like the word free there. Unless I am giving them money for nothing...
Never having the pleasure of looking under a Kia I would guess they would be reasonably easy to get to. Most Cad converters are at the bottom of the front exhaust manifold. They look like a small muffler. Spray the bung around them with plenty of WD-40. PB and others are much better but use what ya got. Soak them several times before even trying to loosen the O 2 sensors. The proper sized wrench and a good swat with a hammer may be needed to break the rust loose. A gentle swat ! I'll bet your fuel mileage will go up! I'd change them both because they are most likely originals. It will save you money over time.
