What does a lambda sensor do in my car?
A lambda sensor looks at the amount of oxygen left in the exhaust gas and compares it to the amount of oxygen in the air around it. This makes it possible to find and change the combustion air ratio. It is mainly in charge of catalytic exhaust gas purification and should help the fuel work as well as possible. This is how we can cut down on the amount of pollution that gets into the air. Lambda sensors are mostly used in OTTO engines, but they can also be found in diesel engines and wood chip heating systems.
Signs that a lambda sensor isn’t working right
If your car needs a lot more fuel than usual over the same distance, then you probably have a broken lambda sensor. This is because the fuel consumption is usually much higher than normal. Also, you can tell that there is a problem with your car by how poorly it runs. Because of this, the environment is much more polluted because the exhaust values were measured wrong. Your car’s system should usually be able to find and save the broken lambda sensor. You should still check your lambda sensor, though. If you see any of these signs, you should definitely change your lambda sensor or have it changed.
What happens if the lambda sensor doesn’t work?
You should always change the lambda sensor on your car and take it to the shop if it is also broken. If you drive with a broken lambda sensor for too long, you’ll not only pay more for gas and get to your destination later, but you’ll also pollute the environment and put it at risk by releasing a lot of exhaust. In the long run, the high fuel consumption will not pay off, even if you replace the sensor. It will even cost more than fixing your car.
If the lambda sensor is broken, should you fix it at home or in the shop?
If you just found out that your lambda sensor is broken, you might be able to save some money by replacing it yourself instead of waiting for the car to be ready in the shop.
People who are good at fixing cars can take the part out and put in a new probe themselves. You don’t need any special tools to do this. A lift could be very useful and save time because the probe isn’t easy to get to. To take out the lambda sensor, just unplug the two connectors. After that, take the probe off the exhaust manifold. A ring wrench can help with this.
With the help of a lifting platform, taking it off is pretty easy. Then, in the opposite order, a new lambda sensor needs to be put in. But it’s very important to make sure that the seal is perfect. If not, the new sensor’s ability to work can’t be guaranteed. If you’re lucky, though, all you need to do to get the lambda sensor working again is replace a few broken connection cables.
The costs of the repair and the lambda sensor by themselves
Installing a lambda sensor costs between $250 and $450. These are the only costs you need to think about if you install the sensor yourself. However, if you want to have the broken sensor replaced in a workshop, you should expect to pay up to 500 dollars, plus 500 dollars more for the mechanic’s time. You should always base your calculations on your own experience with fixing cars. If you don’t know much about the topic, the workshop’s expert is probably the best person to talk to. But if you’re sure of what you’re doing, you can replace it yourself. WA Auto Parts also sells replacement parts.
Conclusion
If you have the right tools, like a lifting platform, it is generally easy to install a lambda sensor. But if you’re not very good at fixing cars, you shouldn’t think about going to the shop where changing a lambda sensor is a normal job and the right tools are always on hand.
You should never drive with a broken lambda sensor because it makes the exhaust more harmful to the environment. Also, the repair is worth it because the costs that need to be calculated here would have been gone sooner or later because of the lambda sensor’s high fuel consumption. The investment is worth it for a better environment, a faster car, and lower fuel consumption, but right away.