I've got a 97 2.0 sport I bought it cheap for a runabout but when I bought it there was no exhaust from the manifold back. Having a few turbo exhausts about I fitted one then made my own pipe from manifold to exhaust.
I didn't realise that a lambda sensor was supposed to go into where the cat would be as there was no wires or lambda sensor hanging. I presume it was cut off when exhaust was removed. Question is that the car runs fine drives fine has no issues. Yet the check light is now on throwing up the lambda code. Question is yet why is the car running fine! I thought it would idle poor or run a bit rough?

 

Has your fuel consumption been affected? If it's the sensor I'm thinking of your car will run okay but drink petrol if that sensor goes as it will run rich to compensate for being unable to determine the air/fuel ratio correctly.

 

Does use a bit more fuel than I expected. I'm just suprised That it runs well with it not even there