03/17/2024
Any welders in my friend list willing to help weld x2 Oxygen Sensor Bungs into the clean exhaust of my 2005 Subaru Forester XS? Car is immobilized at this point but i've pulled the whole exhaust into my living room and have meticulously cleaned all surfaces.
When trying to change my O2 sensors, the entire b**g broke away on both with the slightest turn of the wrench. I've been chasing P0420 codes for a bit. Over a year ago I did a high temp silicone repair (sensor friendly silicone) that barely held in the rear o2 sensor which seemed to be spinning freely in its hole. This was allowing lots of oxygen into the exhaust stream at the o2 sensor causing a lean condition. The front o2 sensor seemed to be working fine until i tried to replace it with a new Denso just so i'd have x2 new denso o2 sensors in my exhaust.
Currently, both o2 sensors are removed and both have the b**g seized onto the o2 sensor. I'm ok with reusing the old b**gs but that seems a chore without a vice grip to heat up the b**g first, so im willing to buy new b**gs ad the advisement of whoever can help me.
Local Midas appointment is scheduled for Thursday but I can already tell they are going to attempt to gouge me on this. In the scheduling phone call they said $200/hour. Doctors and lawyers charge that, I dont even think Subaru Dealerships charge that much. I'm limited by transportation, but for the right help id travel on a bus with my catalytic.
Catalytic and exhaust both still bear the markings of factory. If you look closely at the b**gs they appear like they have a single thread and they thread on till snug but break away from the grip easily and spin freely in their holes. It's like they came from the factory this way or the last tech working on this intentionally didn't weld these knowing that this air leak (vacuum leak in the exhaust) can cause hours of difficult to trace troubleshooting chasing other sources. This could also dramatically jack up the bill.
With all this air entering the exhaust the computer would read the lean condition and add more fuel accordingly. If there is too much fuel and not enough air or spark, unburned fuel would enter the exhaust and destroy the catalytic. Ive investigated my catalytic and it appears to be in one piece. I can pay for this job, but the $200/hour Midas pricetag isnt interesting. Fo $200/hour that mechanic better have 100 certifications, and even then, I need a simple weld i've seen done several times, and it takes 15 minutes once everything is staged.
Internet prices show me $35-$50 on some Subaru Forums so if we can land between those numbers, please message me.
