Got the codes read (code red code red... sorry) and they tell me it's time for this to be changed. What's the ballpark price range/hourly charge I should expect? Searching here led me to some $49-89 Bosch sensors, but are those as reliable as the Subaru-specific factory sensor?

Thanks!

Bueller... Bueller... Anyone...

 

The direct-from-subaru part costs 126.95 according to my mechanic. That's a fair amount more expensive than a 50-80 dollar Bosch.

I seem to remember the factory sensor was a bosch on our outback.

 

I wouldn't be afraid to use a bosch.

 

You can probably get an OEM sensor from www.1stsubaruparts.com a little cheaper than $126.95.

every o2 sensor I have seen is Bosch... Ford, GM, Subaru, Honda, Toyota, etc... some don't have the bosch name printed on them... but every one i've ever seen at least had the bosch emblem on it. Even the AC Delco ones are simply bosch ones in a Bosch box with a new AC Delco sticker over the Bosch sticker. Pray to god we never go to war with the germans again, we'll run out of O2 sensors for our cars. Bosch is a german government owned company

 

I always look up parts at carparts.com to get a ball park idea. o2 sensors are not hard... worst case you may have to spend $10 on the oxygen sensor tool... looks like a huge socket with a window cut in it. Even spending the $10 you save the cost of paying some mechanic too much for an easy job.

 

My recommendation... do it yourself.

I've used Bosch "generics" on my Outback, the ones with no connector pre-wired, and simply spliced the wires directly into their counterparts on the O2 sensor part of the harness with no problems whatsoever. In fact there is only one O2 sensor technology, one basic sensor design, and a couple of external shell configurations used in all auto engines. Nice thing, those ISO standards!