Driving your 2002 Honda Accord with a bad oxygen (02) sensor will not only cost you more in fuel consumption, but also could cause damage to the catalytic converter, spark plugs and other components. Since the first oxygen sensor in the 4-cylinder Accord is readily accessible, the average owner can replace it at home with a few simple tools. In a matter of minutes, you can restore your Honda's engine performance and save on future repair costs.
Take your Accord to the highway and drive it for about 20 minutes to bring the engine up to operating temperature. This will make it easier for you to unfasten the oxygen sensor from the exhaust manifold. Drive back to your driveway.
Open the hood and remove the four mounting bolts off the exhaust manifold cover with a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Remove the four mounting bolts off the heat shield from the top of the exhaust manifold, if your particular Accord model comes equipped with it. Use the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Locate the O2 sensor threaded on the exhaust manifold near the front exhaust pipe. The sensor is a small cylinder, about the size of a spark plug, with an electrical wire at the end.
Unplug the sensor electrical connector.
Unfasten the oxygen sensor with a ratchet and an oxygen-sensor socket.
Coat the threads of the new sensor with anti-seize compound and install the new sensor finger tight. Make sure not to get any compound on the tip of the sensor or you may ruin the probe element on the component. Tighten the sensor to 33 foot-pounds (44 Nm) with a torque wrench.
Plug in the sensor electrical connector and replace the heat shield, if equipped, and the exhaust manifold cover with the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Close the hood.
