Ok i have been messing around with the sensors on my brava. I can unplug the 2 sensors on the top of the engine without any difference to the way the car runs. I think they are the MAF sensor and the Idle control sensor. Does this mean these sensors and dead?

Also i have done the same to the lambda sensor with no change aswell.

Actually i have just driven the car now and there is a minor difference that if i rev it and let off the accelerator without the sensors plugged in it would drop to low revs and pick back up to normal instead of just dropping to normal revs. Also when the maf sensors is unplugged the injector warning light is on.

Jeeze i dont even no if it was the MAF sensor. It was on the top of the engine and i unscrewed it with a spanner. It had a plastic square plug on it not like the fiat colourd plugs. On the sensor end it had a plastic cage with a small resistor like sensor in it.

Also just to clarify the other sensor was the idle control sensor that was black. Unscrewd with 2 hex screws and had a metal dome on the inner end.

Anyone please

reaper1988 said:

Ok i have been messing around with the sensors on my brava. I can unplug the 2 sensors on the top of the engine without any difference to the way the car runs. I think they are the MAF sensor and the Idle control sensor. Does this mean these sensors and dead?

Click to expand...

No.

Back up stratergies in the ECU allow car to run on pre-determined values.

Ok but if i unplug the Lambda sensor there isno difference atall. Nothing! Surely it would run slightly worse from a predetermined value?

when you unplug the lambda you should notice a loss of fuel economy (if the lambda was working) and usually the idle rpm will be affected (unstable) when warm, but as T14086 says the ecu has stored default parameters that are used when a sensor returns no signal, and idle management would still be possible using the rpm sensor, so a faulty lambda can go unnoticed.

when you have a faulty lambda that is not returning a probe signal, you would expect unplugging it to have no effect because the ecu would be using the default parameter already. if you do notice a difference then it suggest the lambda was working. it can take some time to notice a loss of mpg.

unplugging the idle speed control actuator will mean the control valve stays in whatever position it was in when you unplugged it (open if the engine was switched off at the time). that will only have a noticable effect on idle rpm, specifically the cold idle if you disconnected it with the engine switched off.

i dont know what the other sensor was, but it doesnt sound like the MAF.

Where is the MAF sensor on my car? Brava 1.6 ELX 1996.

1.6 doest have a MAF.

there is a MAP.

Ahh ok is the MAP sensor cleanable also where i was talking about i had unscrewed a sensor and cleand it where it was in a plastic cage. I have circled it here.

the sensor you cleaned in the air temp sensor. you can test this easily using a multimeter (search for the thread if you're interested, there's a graph showing expected resistance at different temps)

you can't clean the MAP, nor should you ever need to. however its a good idea to check that the vacuum hose is not damaged, blocked or leaking.

I see another example of the MAF/MAP confusion.

I read a thread on them now so i know the difference. Just didnt know what i had cleaned

Just wanted to add that there are 2 different types of map sensor on the 1600 16v bravo cos i got one like the picture and it is wrong it doesnt fit my car so i am suspecting/ the mark 2's have a different one and it's dealers only!

yet again its a case of sticking to parts from a car with the same upper inlet manifold as you, plastic or metal. both are easy enough to find in a scrapyard.

I bought the part brand new from a motor factor that is the only one they had listed thats why i figured its a dealer only part.