The oxygen sensor in your 1996 Honda Accord allows the computer to properly regulate the engine's air/fuel mixture. For the most part, today's oxygen sensors have a life expectancy of about 100,000 miles. But engine problems, besides old age, can have a toll on the sensor as well, affecting fuel economy and engine performance. You can save on gas and avoid engine problems by replacing the oxygen sensor in your Accord.
Drive your Honda for about 20 minutes to raise the temperature in the engine and exhaust system. This will prevent you from using too much force to unfasten the sensor and possibly causing damage to the exhaust pipe.
Park your Accord, turn off the key and disconnect the ground (black) battery cable with a wrench.
Locate the upstream sensor at the headed pipe, which connects to the exhaust manifold, and the second, down stream sensor, after the catalytic converter.
Raise the front of your Accord with a floor jack and position a safety stand on each side for support, if you need to replace the downstream sensor as well.
Unplug the sensor electrical connector and install an oxygen sensor socket over the sensor. Unfasten the sensor with a ratchet.
Coat the threads of the new sensor with anti-seize compound, if your new sensor is not coated already. This will help you easily replace the sensor next time.
Thread the new sensor in place finger tight, then tighten the sensor with the socket and ratchet.
Plug in the oxygen sensor electrical connector and lower your Accord with the floor jack, if you had to raise it.
Reconnect the ground (black) battery cable with the wrench.
