View Full Version : Lambda Sensor - errr....
So, in the hunt for a new car, I turn to the Org for a quick bit of advice.
If whilst looking at a used car, the owner tells you the engine management light is on occasionally because the lambda sensor is screwed, what do you do? (They havn't fixed it cos they "think" it doesnt affect the running of the car).
Estimate from a garage to replace - ?150.
a) Buy the car and replace the sensor yourself? How hard is it?
b) Dont buy the car?
c) Barter on the price.
EDIT: I've had a good read through this: http://www.picoauto.com/applications/lambda-sensor.html
Ta.
fizzwheel
15-07-08, 04:19 PM
Get at least £150 knocked off the price of the car. Trouble is if they havent fixed the lamda sensor what else havent they looked after...
timwilky
15-07-08, 04:21 PM
If the lamda is screwed it is likely to fail the MOT emissions
plowsie
15-07-08, 04:22 PM
Busted Lambda sensor is a shizzer on the emmisions is all I know, might want to check the exhaust sytem, piping etc over. My mate had an Astra with the same prob, he needed a new exhaust system for it.
plowsie
15-07-08, 04:23 PM
If the lamda is screwed it is likely to fail the MOT emissions
It will, I know that much.
If the lamda is screwed it is likely to fail the MOT emissions
This is the odd thing, its got 12months MOT remaining......how does that work?
Get at least £150 knocked off the price of the car. Trouble is if they havent fixed the lamda sensor what else havent they looked after...
This is true.
yorkie_chris
15-07-08, 05:59 PM
Leave it be, injection engines are a pain because you need to pay some oik with a laptop to tell you what the problem might be if you're lucky.
Why buy a known problem?
There are gazillions of cars out there, get one which works properly to begin with.
It "might" be the lambda sensor, but it might be other things too depending on how the diagnostics flag things. What car?
For reliability, Honda, Toyota, Skoda.
What car?
For reliability, Honda, Toyota, Skoda.
Tis a Volvo.
Which Volvo????
I put money on it being a diesel?
Volvo share their diesel engine with renault.....search renault laguna 1.9DCi problems.....and STEER well clear.
If you dont find what your looking for I'll go into more detail.
Which Volvo????
I put money on it being a diesel?
Volvo share their diesel engine with renault.....search renault laguna 1.9DCi problems.....and STEER well clear.
If you dont find what your looking for I'll go into more detail.
Narr, its a petrol model. Not new though (obviously)
Don't talk to me about problems with Renaults.......
Narr, its a petrol model. Not new though (obviously)
Don't talk to me about problems with Renaults.......
If its petrol then it could just be the Lambda sensor, its a £40 part and screws straight out and straight back in.......add dealer or even private labour costs nowdays at £100 an hour and theres your £150.
If it is just that, then I wouldnt worry, its a good bargaining chip, but I would get an RAC inspection done on it.....they are very very good and go into immense detail.
If its petrol then it could just be the Lambda sensor, its a £40 part and screws straight out and straight back in.......add dealer or even private labour costs nowdays at £100 an hour and theres your £150.
If it is just that, then I wouldnt worry, its a good bargaining chip, but I would get an RAC inspection done on it.....they are very very good and go into immense detail.
Cheers Mr P
Just had a quote from a local garage for £80 for the part, then called another local motor factors supplier (who supply the garage - I drive past them making their delivery every morning....) and they quoted £33.03+VAT = £38
I reckon for a cheapo runaround (only a couple a hundred quid) its not a bad punt. Certainly not if I can fit it myself? Where does it go?
Cheers Mr P
Just had a quote from a local garage for £80 for the part, then called another local motor factors supplier (who supply the garage - I drive past them making their delivery every morning....) and they quoted £33.03+VAT = £38
I reckon for a cheapo runaround (only a couple a hundred quid) its not a bad punt. Certainly not if I can fit it myself? Where does it go?
The Lambda sensor, is normally located at the base of the exhaust manifold just infront of the catalystic converter. It will be the only sensor going into the exhuast system so very easy to locate.
yorkie_chris
16-07-08, 10:48 AM
Yeah but what grounds have you for thinking it's the sensor, it passed the MOT so the mixture can't be far out.
DoubleD
16-07-08, 11:16 AM
Just been down this road with a car, fitted new exhaust from the CAT back and about 2 months later the engine light came on... oxygen sensor faulty so replaced it..... 2 days later the light was back on, lambda sensor this time so replaced it.... 4 days later light back on again and this time it was the CAT replaced (was a manicat - meaning I had to replace the manifold and CAT as they are one unit)
£600 and the light has come back on again just 3 days later!!!!!!!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - I have replaced everything and still the light is on, this time the error message is "CAT not efficient" but it is a COMPLETE NEW SYSTEM WITH NEW SENSORS.
Just letting you know that it is not always an easy fix!
I'm starting to get a funny feeling everytime I hear "the Lambda sensor is dead"
My lads girfreinds car (yes I know ;)) had this problem so I did a quick search on the net. It appears that there is precidence for this being no more than a dodgy connection/earth somewhere which is why when you replace it with a new one it disapears for a bit and then comes back.
What you lot think
yorkie_chris
16-07-08, 11:53 AM
Wouldn't suprise me, far too many electrics with EFI
Just been down this road with a car, fitted new exhaust from the CAT back and about 2 months later the engine light came on... oxygen sensor faulty so replaced it..... 2 days later the light was back on, lambda sensor this time so replaced it.... 4 days later light back on again and this time it was the CAT replaced (was a manicat - meaning I had to replace the manifold and CAT as they are one unit)
£600 and the light has come back on again just 3 days later!!!!!!!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - I have replaced everything and still the light is on, this time the error message is "CAT not efficient" but it is a COMPLETE NEW SYSTEM WITH NEW SENSORS.
Just letting you know that it is not always an easy fix!
Is it not just a dodgy light? :D
DoubleD
16-07-08, 12:45 PM
Is it not just a dodgy light? :D
I might take it out and check.... maybe not put it back in :smt077
I might take it out and check.... maybe not put it back in :smt077
That would be an expensive light, if that's the fault :-$
I had this problem with my volvo(v40 1.8 petrol volvo engine not renault). I knew the cat needed replacing when I bought the car but as I paid 2 grand less than book for it I wasn't over concerned and replaced the cat because the eml came on. Got the light turned off at volvo dealers but it came on again. The dealer said it was probably the oxygen sensor but I couldn't be a***d to get one.The car still went through the emissions on the next 2 mot's(yes I really couldn't be a***d)but the emissions were higher than normal. Part exed the car in the end (from volvo to subaru wrx) on the condition to the car dealer that if he get the light switched off and it came on again then I would have to foot the bill.Didn't hear anything from him so I guess it must have stayed off this time. This was the second volvo I have owned and other than the cat on the v40 the only problem I have really had is that they get through light bulbs quicker than your average car(daytime running lights). I owned that car for 2 1/2 years and the volvo I had before that (s40 1.8 renault engine) for about 4 years until a landrover hit the back of it and wrote it off, and they were pretty much faultless.
Engine diagnostics systems can be a licence to print money for the dealers. Many components don't fail anything like as often as made out, but who's going to challenge a dealer who says the lambda sensor needed replacing when the check-engine light was on? Easy hour's labour charge.
Volvos are typically reasonably near the better end of vehicle reliability tables
http://www.whatcar.co.uk/news-special-report.aspx?NA=225557&EL=3196982#
Just don't go French or Italian.....or Vauxhall.....or......
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