No fun!

Those are two things that look simple but never are. Never under estimate the ability of rust to take an easy job and make it last a day or two.

The repair and service manuals seem to assume that your car is fresh off the assembly line! :-)

I once spent three hours banging on catalytic converter trying to get it off. I finally conceded defeat, went to a muffler shop and watched as the tech pulled it right out in less than 5 minutes with a pair of channel-locks and an acetylene torch.

What kind of penetrating oil are you using?

-Ryan
--

Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars, GT Braces
1991 745 GL 300k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars

Lucast,My O2 sensor fought me the whole way.I thought I stripped the manifold out when it came out.Heat is one answer,and in the past I have broken the end off the sensor and used a shallow socket to get it out.My worst case was Having to pull the manifold off and clamp it in a vise then heat it up to get it out.AUNS-always use never sieze on this when replacing.
With fuel filters I hold the filter with a vise grip or crescent wrench and use an impact wrench on its low setting to get the darn banjo bolt out.I Neversieze the bolts with a small amount so maybe it will come out more easily the next time.I have always had trouble with getting the banjo bolts out on the Fuel filter.I have used a long handled rachet but I had to jack the car up so I could pull on it.It took 2 people-I had a friend keep the fuel filter from twisting with the vise grip pilers.It was a mess,fuel leaking out everywhere,undercoat dissolving in the process and getting on everything.Good luck!

Hi Lucast,

My O2 sensor was welded in solid- Fancy tools just rounded the hex on the sensor.
It required an oxygen torch and a pipe wrench and it still was resisting
when cherry red. What a PIA
You can use some hi temp never seez on reinstallation being careful to keep
it away from the sensor element.

The Fuel filter is another PIA- be sure to have some new copper washers
for those banjo fittings, and I think there's a way to release most of the high pressure in the fuel line - maybe by pulling the fuel pump fuse with the engine running. check the FAQ so you don't get covered with gas.

Bill