argetni

The part cost for me is $33 o2 sensor (Walker 250-24078) from amazon plus $17 for the o2 sensor socket set from amazon as well.

I think the sensor on the car is original so it has 10 years and 160k of rust, but I hate to pay 3x for something I can do myself.

My car maintenance experience so far is limited to oil changes, air intakes, boost gaugues, FPRs, shocks, and struts/springs.

I think I can handle this. but I do hesitate a bit.

Vindicator9000

$163 sounds reasonable for that from a shop. I've seen anywhere from $90-200 for an O2 sensor. It might be a *little* high, but it's not highway robbery, considering that a shop has to pay their guys and make a little money on it.

It is however, something you can do yourself fairly easily if you can swing a wrench. You just take the old one out and put the new one in. If you don't run into major rust issues, it's a 30-60 minute job. If you're buying a universal aftermarket sensor, it may require a bit of fairly easy wiring, wherein you cut the factory plug off of the old one and somehow attach it to the new one (preferably with solder and heatshrink) usually following included instructions.

Part of the extra cost associated with the shop is that they're probably using a factory replacement O2 sensor, which usually costs more than a universal. I'd almost bet that the one you're looking at from Amazon is a universal, based on price alone.

huntingman2706217

yeah a original is normally around 90 to 120... you can do it yourself easily... just like taking a bolt out and sticking it back in... but spray some pb blaster on it for a little bit and start the jeep... let it warm up a bit and expand... it helps... sometimes when you screw them out itll pull the threads right with them... thats when it sucks... oh and you dont need the stupid sockets... your taking the old one out... so cut the darn wires plush... then stick a reg socket on it... no wrenches cause youll probly need a small breaker bar... and when u stick the new one on you can just use a wrench...

cherokeesteve

Go down and buy a socket that will remove the sensor and do it yourself, but buy the oem style sensor where you can just plug it into the wiring harness and your done.
Sometimes you may get bad readings from your o2 sensor if you use the universal one and wire it wrong, so to make it easy get the oem, it is easier to work with.
Kragen "or oreilly if you are back east" wants 10.00 bucks for the socket and 45.00 for the oem o2 sensor, all parts involved comes to 60 bucks and you have the joy of doing it yourself and learning something for future reference.