1999 Dakota 5.2 O2 sensor replacement

[ClutchDisc]

Not a bad idea if the flanges holding it to the manifold weren’t gone. But since those are bad, makes sense to just do the Y pipe.

 

[D60]

On the last chunk of dodge one of my kids owned, he had a sensor that wouldn't budge after all the tricks. Used a step bit to drill a hole right next door and tack welded in a new 4 dollar bung and popped in new sensor. Left the old one in for eternity. Which was about a year.

I was going to suggest this, too. A 4-pack of bungs is cheap on ebay and it doesn't matter exactly where the sensor is, esp if it's in a length of pipe (those in cats are likely more particular)

I did this on my non-profit's 2nd Gen Ram when I installed a Y-pipe in place of the cat. A sensor lives just before the cat so I installed a bung and retained the sensor. The vehicle never sees public roads so everyone relax.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Finally had time to finish this for my neighbor today.

I ordered a new Y pipe, new flange bolts, and a clamp. Cut off the old pipe and attached it to the new Y pipe with a clamp that bolted down and wrapped around the pipe. Used some muffler / tailpipe sealer on the pipe where the clamp went. It should last the rest of the life of the truck I would think.

I can’t believe the hack job that the shop did to “fix” his exhaust back in February. Since the flange was gone, they cobbled 4 exhaust clamps together around the pipe to hold it up to the manifold. Worst is they charged him $200 to do that….

At least it is fixed properly now and the O2 sensor is also replaced.