14 replies to this topic

[JamesM]

Hi, long time no see on the forum.

Sorry to duck in when I need some help, but my car is using 10 pounds of petrol every 20 miles and I am not sure where to start.

It is running very rich, after an oil change and plugs I found they were very black which I hguess means it is running rich or on choke permanetly. The temp gauge shows the engine getting upto running temperture and the revs seem to drop from 1,000 to about 800 so I am guessing the choke is not an issue, but how do I get a car with an ECU to drop the mixture?

Any help would be very much appreciated.

James

[Bounce]

when was the last time you changed the Lambda sensor? Thats the thing in your exhaust. Its this sensor which tells the ECU if the fueling is ok or not.

If it is old it will be all sooted up and not reading the exhaust very well. They are about £60 from any good Motor Factors.

[metro1275]

when was the last time you changed the Lambda sensor? Thats the thing in your exhaust. Its this sensor which tells the ECU if the fueling is ok or not.

If it is old it will be all sooted up and not reading the exhaust very well. They are about £60 from any good Motor Factors.

if it is the lamba sensor you should be able to get a aftermarket universal jobbie cheaper than that, if you can get it out the exhaust

[Retro_10s]

if you can get it out the exhaust

there's the catch. good luck lol.

[Bounce]

yea, thats the problem with old sensors, the grease drys up making it very, very hard to remove it.

The book says to change them every 6 months!


What you can do if your strapped for cash is brush out as much soot as you can with anything but a wire brush, and dont knock it around.

But to be honest, id just buy a new one!

[Retro_10s]

And copper grease the new one's thread!

[Bounce]

new ones come with grease around the thread

[Sprocket]

And dont use the cheepo cheepo 'Universal' ones.

Other things causing rich condition, Air temp sensor, Coolant sensor.

You haven't fitted one of those silly resistors? No? Didn't thinks so. Good.

[Retro_10s]

new ones come with grease around the thread

yeah and if it's anything like the way manufacturers supposedly 'grease' knuckle joints, it'll need doing again properly... so it doens't like like a really small ant has sneezed lol.

Edited by Retro_10s, 12 October 2006 - 06:52 PM.

[AlexM]

May be easyest to have a diagnostic check, if the car is running rich it will be damaging things like the catalyst and lambda sensor anyway, get it checked before it does too much damage and get to the root of the problem!

[JamesM]

Thanks guys and girls, I had a feeling it might be the Lambra sensor, but I know what it is like to change, I was hoping it might be something else. Ok off to get a new one and graze my knuckles. I will get a diagnostic check to, other though being a Mini i am sure it is hiding lots of expensive things.

Cheers

James

[JamesM]

Sorry to come back to you again, but where is best to get this sensor, I tried Mini Spares but they want 95 quid for one, you have warned me off the cheaper ones, but does anyone have a cheaper place to get these?

Oh I tries to disconnect the sensor to see if the ECU had a default map with out the sensor... that doesn't work

[the old git]

I take it you have checked to see if the elbows have not perished on the MAP sensor and the two on the back of the manifold? and that they have not been knocked off by engine movement?

[Sprocket]

http://www.boschauto...e...t&intType=1

[Bounce]

Any good motor factors will supply them. £95 is very steep!