What a pain in the butt.. It took me 2 hours to change the left side.

Now.... I dumped the code and tomorrow I'll see if the light stays off.

For those so unfortunate, here's how I ended up doing it.

Best way:
I removed the inner fender well.

Unplugged the unit. This is not easy with the XL hands I have. I finally used long needle nose pliers to grab the plug with my right hand and released the catch with my left. Many try's before it worked. One thing I did but not sure it helped, I took the bolt out holding the tranny dip stick tube. At times, I think it gave me a couple thou extra room!!

Why I have no idea, but the sensor screwed right out. I used a metric end wrench to loosen it from below. It required winding the cord at times for the next revolution. Did this from the side.

Put the thread coating on the new one that it came with. Looked like copper never sieze.

Screwed in the unit from the side and tightened from below.

Put the plug back in.... Again, many try's finally was able to start it with my left hand and push it in with a finger on the right.

Put the fender liner back in. Dumped the error code.



Oh yeah, what REALLY helped was having my Lab pup thinking I was down there to play... Probably figure an extra half hour just fighting him off...He's a bit over 110 lbs and not fat

 

I understand completely. My issue on both sides was matching up the exhaust flanges on my 4.6 getting them tight with no leaks. I never seized the bolts, the face of the flanes and where the flange slides to pull them tight.
When I changed the o2 sensor I could unplug it but getting it loose was a challenge.

 

What was the code it was giving you for it? I have p0151 not sure if it similar but if so iam having the smae issue

 

Sorry, but I didn't write it down. I looked up the code on the CD that came with the reader and it said:

"Lean on left bank, bad Oxy switch (sensor)"

I put in the new sensor and so far, all is well.