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Old 27 September 2006, 08:54 AM
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speedy steve
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Cool Cheap Lambda Sensor

Hi there,

1995 WRX wagon, recent decat DP, & ECU remap (ESL) no other mods, been running fine for a while despite a brief "smokie" stage which I thought was the turbo on the way out but a quick oil change to something a little thicker seames to have sorted that....

well new problem, fuel economy has become drastically worse, during my daily commute ( most of which is sitting & crawling in tailbacks.. ) i.e. off boost driving, have checked my MAF by the "unplug during tickover test" instant cough splutter & stall which is a good sign. ( I think ? )

next most likely candidate would be the Lambda sensor, which I will attempt to test this week, assuming its KO'ed would one of these work ?

"http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BN-Universal-4-Wire-Zirconia-Oxygen-Lambda-Sensor_W0QQitemZ120035554071QQihZ002QQcategoryZ722 05QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"

seams mucho cheaper than the other options I have found so far ( local Halfords no longer stocks L300 universal )

Have I missed anything ? is it worth trying to wirebrush & no-trich degreaser the old sensor to bring it back to life ?

I know that around £30 aint much if the sensor will fix the problem but it is potentially about 100miles of fun !!!!

SS
Old 02 October 2006, 08:20 AM
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speedy steve
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Cool

Tested lambda output at weekend, once engine hot, probed connector with following results :-
0.3 V varying to max of 0.36 V at tickover

by blipping throttle worked revs up to max ( 6k ish ) maximum reading of
0.56 V

responce seamed very slow as well i.e. good second between any form of reading change.

I take it this means the sensor is definatelly goosed ? , have ordered a super cheapo generic 3 wire ( zirc ) from E-bay for £15 which will confirm for sure.
( if the cheapo sensor only lasts 6mnths as others have experienced then so be it. )

SS
Old 02 October 2006, 09:27 AM
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StickyMicky
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what reading do you get on boost?

should be around 895mv IIRC ??

or it might be 885mv it should be a bit higher then 560ish i *think*

Last edited by StickyMicky; 03 October 2006 at 10:38 PM.
Old 02 October 2006, 10:42 AM
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speedy steve
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Hi Sticky,

Didnt try under load, only stationary, short multimeter leads etc but I could hook the meter up a little more permanently & try again while driving.

Do you think this would tell me anything else ?

SS
Old 03 October 2006, 10:39 PM
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you could have a fault with the fuel pump maybe?

they are renowned for going off slowly with age, although from what i have gathered, they tend to run lean as they get older, mine did.

I suppose its possible it could be going icky, chances are its probs your lambda
Old 05 October 2006, 08:04 AM
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speedy steve
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Hmm now I'm really cofused, just changed out lambda sensor for a new one, appears to read bt 0.7 & 0.75v all the time ????? regardless of throttle position ? ( all tests still stationary no load ) , maybe the "new" one is worse than the original ? any ideas would be appreciated..........
Old 06 October 2006, 12:31 PM
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vulnax999
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Should cycle between 0.1 - 0.9 v each second when on closed loop running in low load conditions, e.g. idle. Around 0.8v something is stoiciometric point - spot on air/fuel ration.

Lambdasensor.com do Bosch LS200 universal, and a Legacy /universal one with a Subaru plug on the loom ( which may fir some years of impreza ) for £45 - £57. Lots of info on lambda sensors on there web site too.
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