Testing/removing the Y-pipe sensors?

[DrWin]

Hi again! :)

So far so good. Before I put the Y-pipe back on, I was wondering if it would make sense to remove and refit the sensors in the Y-pipe and/or test them for functionality before refitting them? I've had no reason to suspect that they are/were defective, so I'm assuming I could just refit the pipe. OTOH now is a good as time as any. Suggestions wanted?
68089

[82DMC12]

Hi again! :)

So far so good. Before I put the Y-pipe back on, I was wondering if it would make sense to remove and refit the sensors in the Y-pipe and/or test them for functionality before refitting them? I've had no reason to suspect that they are/were defective, so I'm assuming I could just refit the pipe. OTOH now is a good as time as any. Suggestions wanted?
68089

I recently went through this and did not attempt to test anything. I had my Y pipe off for valley service and decided to get the mounting face machined at a shop. So, I decided to remove all three sensors first. The Lambda switch and the thermistor came out pretty easily but the ported vacuum switch was much harder to remove since you can't get a box wrench or 6-point socket onto it. I tried to remove it with the correct size open end wrench but that just rounded it off. By that point I decided to just replace it so I broke off the plastic vacuum ports and got a 6-pt socket on it, then heated up with MAP and turned it out with a breaker bar.

Since the other two switches can only be tested with heat, I decided I was too lazy to test them so I just brushed them off and cleaned the contacts and re-installed. They still work. The vendors say these switches don't go bad very often. You might decide differently if your car wasn't running correctly before getting in here. Mine was.