Oxygen Sensor

Hi, this is my first post here. Here goes my story:

I got a 97 Camry LE some time ago. I've been driving it for a while. The mileage is about 100k. About 2 months ago, the dreaded "check engine light" goes on.

Being a complete newb about cars, I did some research and decided to get a free code reading from Autozone. then I went to a mechanics and they ended up charging me $40 for figuring out what is wrong with the car:

1. oxygen sensor is bad (or air/fuel sensor)
2. EGR solenoid is bad

basically i need to replace these parts. the quote i got from the mechanics is,

parts:
1. around 200
2. around 100

labor: about 200 total

so I'll pay about $500

being a poor college student ($500 is approximately the salary I get per semester for my part time job at my university!) I decided to do some more research.

from this website
http://replacement.car-stuff.com/parts/carstuff/quote.jsp?year=1997&product=C5015-131191&application=000590057&part=Air%20Fuel%20Ratio%20Sensor&category=C&returnurl=null&dp=true&showdc=true#top
it seems that the O2 sensor is indeed $200

however, some friend told me that O2 sensor is usually around $60...

I decided to replace the oxygen sensor by myself. (I've learnt how to replace spark plugs as a total newb)

As for the EGR valve... I am told that I would need to lift the car up to replace it. Being a total newb, I'll leave this part for last after I am done with oxygen sensor.

my personal philosophy: the decision of attempting to fix the car on my own is partly because of money and partly because of my personal philosophy. I believe in doing things on my own and learning from the experience. I would gladly spend $500 bucks and time trying to fix the car myself as long as I learn.

I apologize for any newbish questions or spelling errors.
Thank you for reading my long post.
Any comment is appreciated.

The codes you have does not mean this two parts are faulty. Any of them could cause the computer to think the other one is faulty. First thing is to test which part is working and which is not working before replacing anything and this is why you need a qualified mechanic. As far as doing things by yourself this might cost you more money incase you strip the manifold.

Thank you for the reply.

I paid the mechanic $40 to check what the problem is and he told me the oxygen sensor and the EGR solenoid need replacing.

Havin problem removing sensor by catalic convertor, hangs up inside cavity, thanks

I changed the o2 sensor had the engine light turned off I drove 4 awhile it came back on and said the same thing that the sensor was bad what else can it be and will it hurt the engine to drive it like this

I need to replace my O2 sensor. I was told that I need a calfornia emissions O2, but I dont know if the shops trying 2 get over on me. I dont know where the car was made. I know it was in PA, but dont know if it was made there. I live in AL. I dont have much $. Can yall help me please?

I don't think you don't need any CA O2 Censors unless you are driving in the state of CA. Just shop around for the cheapest O2 Sensors and again, if it is a CEL problem, even after replacing the O2 Censor, your problem may not go away. You could end up replacing the CAT and still have it. Thsi CEL is an SOB!

I have a 1997 Toyota CamryLE 4cyl. At different times the car smell like sulfer or rotten eggs, plus it looses power. I just had my O2 sensors replaced. What else could the problem be?

1996 Toyota Camry 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 146 k miles

I need to replace the oxygen sensors in my Camry. Toyota wants over $400 for the parts alone. So we are talking over 6hundred if I go the official route and have them do the work. Poverty and sanity lead me to the conclusion that I should try and do it myself and get non-Toyota parts.

I have ordered two different sets of Oxygen sensors on the net. The price was right, but even though the parts were listed as appropriate for my car, they have not fit. I even went so far as to get a real mechanic to try to install them. No luck. When I tried to return the "wrong" parts today, the"Autoparts Warehouse. Com" tech said "Oh, yeah, A '96 Camry with a 2.2 can only use the real Toyota parts." I find this too bizarre for words. Please tell me that that person, at best, was being a crook and/or covering his butt because he didn't want to take them back. Tell me I can use the secondary market parts, please, and give a place to order them.

Thanks,
Robin

I put my 95 Camry in the shop to determine the cause of poor gas mileage. Usually I will get 34 mpg on the road and lately it has dropped to 24 mpg. The diagnosis was that the computer was calling for a rich fuel mixture at a much lower rpm that it should.
The fix was to replace the catalyitic coverters and oxygen sensors. I had a tune up performed also
(plugs, plug wires, distributer cap, rotor, fuel filter).
It still only gets 24 mpg. Almost $1000.00 later -
What next?

My wife's car (1992 Toyota Camry v6 sedan - Japan version) has been idling very rough and even runs rough - most noticably below freeway speeds. The dealer replaced 6 spark plugs, cables and rotary cap but it's still not running smooth. They then said that it looks like the fuel injectors and both o2 sensors are "saturated" and the computer is thrashing the engine back and forth between heavy and lean mixtures. They want $2500 for these repairs. We're thinking about dontating the car and getting something new but I'm handy (electrical engineer) and don't mind giving this a shot myself with a Chilton's book at my side. Question is - does their diagnosis sound correct and if so, exactly what parts would I need to purchase? I've seen a 6 injector replacement set online but do I need to get o rings and other injector related things as well?

Thanks in advanced!

John