Can you even read? I did take initiative to do it. I've been under the XJ for the last 5 days in a row either soaking it in PB or trying the O2 socket with a breaker bar. I'm glad your O2 sensor came out. For me, it didn't come out. I said I don't have a 22mm wrench. Do you? Basic toolsets don't come with a 22mm wrench.
$1000 worth of basic tools means a floor jack, a complete socket set, torx bits, hex bits, u-adapters, a few toolboxes, torque wrench, hanging lights, chocks, door trim pullers, drill, pliers, vice grips, etc. This does not include bench vices, angle grinders, engine cranes, blowtorches, air hammers, and other stuff that is required to work on XJs. Why? B/c normal cars don't really need this next level stuff in order to be maintained. Do you have a 22mm wrench? I bet you don't. I've never needed one. Why? Because basic mechanical work doesn't require this type of tool. O2 sensors usually come out with an O2 socket. That's why they make them. Next time an O2 sensor doesn't come out b/c you're lucky, you'll be shit out of luck as well.
Do you even understand my point? I am saying you can spend upwards of $1000 on tools to do basic maintenance on your cars, and never yet own the kind of industrial grade equipment that XJ's require. I'm pointing out the bullshit artists on these forums like you who claim to work on XJ's with nothing more than a $25 toolset. They are full of crap, plain and simple. And you changing your stupid O2 sensor doesn't negate this reality. Get it? If YOUR O2 sensor was frozen solid, trust me, you don't have the resources to work on these cars either. So, instead of yapping your mouth, you might learn something by listening. If you don't have a bench vice, angle grinders, engine cranes, blowtorches, air hammers, then please shut up about doing all this work on XJ's with your $25 socket set. You and your little $25 ratchet set will hit the limits as soon as you venture beyond changing an air filter.
I'll also call bullshit on your 16 year old friend who changed his OFA o-ring. I believe he did it, but you're telling me no one helped him? Who even told him what he needed to do? He just knew even though he only learned to drive 3 months ago? You're telling me he didn't use his dad's tools? You're telling me this kid has his own angle grinder which he used to grind off a T60 bit? Which means he has a bench vice. Where, in his frickin' bedroom? No, let me guess, in his 2 car garage. Your $25 socket set doesn't come with a full set of wrenches, does it? Where did he get those? Oh, and where did he get a large breaker bar? Wow, pretty damn impressive for a kid making $8/hr while still in 10th grade. Your story is full of crap b/c you omit the fact that he's using his dad's tools that have been amassed over a lifetime. And did he cut that T60 bit, or did his dad do it for him? If anyone else was involved, please shut up with your bullshit about "even a 16 year old can do this" No, he can't, unless he's pre-equipped with his gearhead mechanic dad, and his 10,000 garage set up, b/c no 16 year old can afford a bench vice, angle grinder, and XJ in the first place to do an OFA job.
The only worthwhile thing you've said is that I can't automatically figure these things out for myself. That I agree with. This stuff is very hard to do. That is why mechanics can charge $250 for 15 mins. worth of work. You think this is an accident? Use your brain and try to figure out why a high school dropout can effectively charge people $500/hr (after netting parts markup and shop book hours manipulation) for work that is supposedly so simple. You know who else makes $500/hr? Surgeons. You know what's simple? Mopping a floor. Cooking a hamburger. Scanning a price tag. Ripping a ticket stub. You know anyone doing that making $250 in 15 mins? Yea, didn't think so.
where dozens of XJ veterans offered all sorts of solutions involving hammering out bits in a bench vice, and using a cutting disk to saw the termpered T60, jacking the XJ up on a lift....yet using a "regular torch bit" was barely mentioned. Can you post a photo of this magic torx bit that your friend used? If so, your friend might be a genius mechanic better than this entire forum combined!