can I clean the lambda sensor?

[Dan]

bit poor at the moment and I sure that its the sensor thats getting me such poor mpg.

you wouldn't believe that I didn't even get 500 miles from £65 worth of fuel

Can I clean it? as when I changed my down pipe it was caked in carbon build up. I'm guessing its giving an incorrect reading and overfueling badly, also making the car hesitate.

also, do you think its worth running some forte through it and resetting the ecu? I'm at wits end and if it doesn't get sorted I gonna have to get rid as its one thing after another and its bleeding me dry

Dan

But my dreams they aren't as empty, As my conscience seems to be...

 

[Anonymous]

did it on my former car. Just unscrew it out and clean it whit some WD40 or similar.
Whit something that can get melt the residue on it.

 

[Anonymous]

forte would certainly not hurt, and it might help. i'm sure folk have cleaned up lamda sensors before, but not sure how... have you tried a forum search?

 

[Tom]

DO NOT CLEAN IT WITH WD40!!!! You will ruin it.

The bit you can see on the lambda sensor is not the sensor itself but a guard. The sensor element is hidden within the guard.

Rather than clean it, a better idea would be to test it. You need a multimeter and a blowtorch.

 

[Dan]

I may just cut my losses and buy a new one.
where can i find one for the cheapest price possible?

just getting fed up now. reduced to biking to work ffs

Dan

But my dreams they aren't as empty, As my conscience seems to be...

 

[Anonymous]

I use a Brake Cleaner spray, give it copious amounts of it and let it dry for 10 mins, then refit.

works a treat

 

[Anonymous]

there's little point in cleaning it. If there is dirt on it that shouldn't be there, surely there is a bigger problem further up.

 

[smokedogg]

99% pure isopropyl alcohol (available at electronic stores)is what can be used for cleaning maf sensor,it might also work for lamda sensor

or maybe parafin????breaks up carbon quite well

 

[Dan]

thing is, I think I may of damaged it when taking it out last time.

Dan

But my dreams they aren't as empty, As my conscience seems to be...

 

[ian]

reply

i have a 1.4 sx and also have the same hesitation problem. i used a forte treatment and there was little or no improvement.
i then tried wynns injector cleaner with high octane fuel and took it for a blast with no improvement. im trying to reset the ecu at the moment. does your seem to hesitate most when going uphill in second or third. also does it run fine if you drive it gently mine seems to its just crap if you put your foot down or try to pull away fast at the lights.

 

[Dan]

Re: reply

yes, its exactly like that

But my dreams they aren't as empty, As my conscience seems to be...

 

[ian]

reply

ill let you know if the reset does any good

 

[Gspot]

can i clean the lambda sensor?

I know how you feel bud if another costly thing goes on mine so does the car!

 

[Gspot]

reply

Must just be something about the smaller engines because i have the same issues, the 1.2 bravo is quite slow in comparison to other makes of cars also 1.2s mine dies on hills.

but i had a 1.0 micra as a courtesy car not so long back and it had so much go in it, was so much easier to drive!

 

[Tom]

Re: can i clean the lambda sensor?

http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/lambda_sensors.php

4 wire univeral, cheaper than a tank of petrol so you can't really moan about the cost

 

[Dan]

Re: can i clean the lambda sensor?

whats the deal then tom, is it a case of soldering the wires together?

Dan

But my dreams they aren't as empty, As my conscience seems to be...

 

[Tom]

Re: can i clean the lambda sensor?

Yup. Bit of heatshrink too.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: can i clean the lambda sensor?

Is it not the MAF sensor, my JTD hesitated and wouldn't pull very well.

JUst an idea, not sure if the other Bravo's have MAF sensors.

J

 

[Anonymous]

Re: can i clean the lambda sensor?

@J - only JTD and TD over 75hp have MAFs

sven

 

[Tom]

Re: can i clean the lambda sensor?

1.2, 1.8 and HGT are MAF
1.4 and 1.6 are MAP