How to Find and Change your Corvette’s Oxygen Sensor

The oxygen sensor in your Corvette is an important, if not vitally necessary, component of your vehicle’s exhaust system. The oxygen sensor detects the quantity of oxygen present in the exhaust and communicates with the exhaust system so that the engine can regulate the fuel/air mixture in order to properly and most efficiently operate.

If your oxygen sensor is broken or otherwise malfunctioning, you may need to repair it or replace it before you can ensure that your vehicle is operating at the proper fuel and air mixture. Failing to act quickly enough can result in permanent and costly damage to your vehicle’s exhaust system. So read below to learn how to find and repair your broken oxygen sensor.

Tools and Materials

    Floor jack and jack stands
    Standard and metric drive sockets, 3/8 inch
    Standard and metric wrenches
    Extensions for the ratchet
    Oxygen sensor removal socket
    Flat head screwdriver
    Lubricant
    Replacement sensor

Step 1 — Prepare the Vehicle

Raise the front end of the vehicle a few inches off of the ground (about a foot is generally good) and prop it up carefully on the jack stands, taking care to ensure that the vehicle is secure before you begin to work.

Step 2 — Identify the Sensor

The existing sensor will typically be on the driver’s side of the vehicle in or around the exhaust manifold. Locate the vehicle’s oxygen sensor and confirm it with the help of the Corvette’s owner’s manual.

Step 3 — Remove the Wiring Harness Connector

Use a flat head screwdriver to remove the wiring harness connector that holds the oxygen sensor in place. Do this carefully so as not to damage the connector or the sensor itself.

Step 4 — Remove the Existing Sensor

Use the oxygen sensor removal socket to remove the sensor by sliding it over the top of the sensor and allowing the wires to slip through it. Use the ratchet and the wrench to maneuver the oxygen sensor by turning it counter clockwise in order to remove it. Be careful that you don’t disturb any of the other parts of the vehicle; use the extension set to get around existing parts of the vehicle if necessary.

Step 5 — Install the New Sensor

Using anti-seize lubricant, put a small bit of lubricant gel on the tip of the new oxygen sensor before you install it. Twist the sensor into place where the old one was previously situated, using your hands first to guide it into place. Use the ratchet and wrench set to tighten it to a pressure of at least 30 foot pounds in order to ensure that it’s properly in place. Reconnect the wiring harness to the vehicle oxygen sensor before removing the car from the jacks and testing out the engine in an open, well ventilated area to be sure that the exhaust system is working properly with the new oxygen sensor.