Had a friend ask me if I'd be willing to change out O2 sensors for his friend, someone unknown to me. 2013 Fusion which has a few engine choices in that year, so that was the first question. Took him a day or two to get back with me and said "1.6L". I always offer to order parts for people since I can save them money over local chains when ordering from Rockauto, and I can often save myself shipping costs if I need something for myself. Then they just pay me back.
Pulling the O2 sensors out wasn't bad, the rear one was a bit of a challenge due to space.
Take the old versus new and compare them--- completely different sensors, with different connectors. Then something dawns on me, I didn't see a turbo while I was back there. I go to my usual spot to verify equipped engine and the underhood sticker says 1.6L just like the fella told me. I then wipe the grime off the valve cover sticker and it's a 2.5L, which I should have known because I've seen them before, but not a 1.6L. Guy didn't know the car's history, I thought engine swap for a second, but it was then I connected the dots.
The hood doesn't latch right, has to be tied down with bunjees and all front plastic supports are aftermarket. He then discloses the car has a rebuilt title so it's obvious to me a salvage hood was put on. Viola, I look up the VIN and it's supposed to have a 2.5L. Very frustrating because I'm basically doing this for charity (couple cases of beer for my labor).
I wanted to get this done, so I send them to the nearest parts store (O'Reilly) to bring back a downstream O2 sensor and they come back with a universal sensor you have to splice because it was cheapest. What a ****show. I don't believe in these sensors and would never install them in my own car, but I went and hooked it up. After a couple test drives the original code is gone (P0420 cat efficiency code) but now there's a O2 heater circuit code on that same sensor which I blame on the universal unit. I read live data and the sensor is performing just fine, but the ECU doesn't like what it sees on the heater circuit.
Whole thing could have been avoided by asking for a VIN. That or I need to look at the car first before I offer to help people.
Pulling the O2 sensors out wasn't bad, the rear one was a bit of a challenge due to space.
Take the old versus new and compare them--- completely different sensors, with different connectors. Then something dawns on me, I didn't see a turbo while I was back there. I go to my usual spot to verify equipped engine and the underhood sticker says 1.6L just like the fella told me. I then wipe the grime off the valve cover sticker and it's a 2.5L, which I should have known because I've seen them before, but not a 1.6L. Guy didn't know the car's history, I thought engine swap for a second, but it was then I connected the dots.
The hood doesn't latch right, has to be tied down with bunjees and all front plastic supports are aftermarket. He then discloses the car has a rebuilt title so it's obvious to me a salvage hood was put on. Viola, I look up the VIN and it's supposed to have a 2.5L. Very frustrating because I'm basically doing this for charity (couple cases of beer for my labor).
I wanted to get this done, so I send them to the nearest parts store (O'Reilly) to bring back a downstream O2 sensor and they come back with a universal sensor you have to splice because it was cheapest. What a ****show. I don't believe in these sensors and would never install them in my own car, but I went and hooked it up. After a couple test drives the original code is gone (P0420 cat efficiency code) but now there's a O2 heater circuit code on that same sensor which I blame on the universal unit. I read live data and the sensor is performing just fine, but the ECU doesn't like what it sees on the heater circuit.
Whole thing could have been avoided by asking for a VIN. That or I need to look at the car first before I offer to help people.