engine management light

[sporty_shorty_85]

Hey! my engine management light came on, i took it to garage and it was a lamber sensor which i got replaced. It was fine until i went on a long trip and it came on again, took it back to garage and i think they just turned the light off and cleaned a new sensor???, a week ater i went on another long trip and oncomes the management light again, i took itback to garage and they retested it on he diagnostics and came back as another lamber sensor, aparently there is two, so i got it replaced. now about two weeks later - went on a long trip again and the light has just came on again, i taking it back to the garage tomorrow, does anyone know what could be causing it?? it only happens on long trips?? just that i have paid for diagnostics test and two sensors and the problem is still there and its getting a bit costly - just want it fixed and im sick of going back garage!!!! Hope someone can help? any ideas??

[Sean_VTS]

What exhaust ave you got on it mate? If its decat that causes the engine managment light to come on.

[BobC]

Hi,

Yes it is possible. When the engine light is reset then the car has to complete three driving cycles (getting to temperature, long run) before it completes diagnostics.

Your car sounds like it is a 2001 onwards model. Three exhaust things can cause this:
1) the upstream oxygen sensor
2) downstream oxygen sensor
3) Catalytic converter

You might be looking at number 3)

[sporty_shorty_85]

hey thanx for replying the saxo is 2003 vtr, it has had new exhaust including new cat and an upstream and down stream sensors, the exhaust is standard so im a bit stumped and sick of going garage, as from sept i will be goingon a long trip once a week so at this rate will be back at garage every week to!!!

[picklesayrshire]

is there not a sleeve u can get that fits ovr the lambda sensor and u just tie it up out the way.

[sporty_shorty_85]

hi, im not sure wheather there is a sleeve, but the car has gone back into the garage this morning so i will let u know what happens, incase someone else gets this fault. dont think the guy in garage knows whats wrong because he said it should happen on short journey but its only happens on long distance.

[Sean_VTS]

hi, im not sure wheather there is a sleeve, but the car has gone back into the garage this morning so i will let u know what happens, incase someone else gets this fault. dont think the guy in garage knows whats wrong because he said it should happen on short journey but its only happens on long distance.

i doubt it would happen on a short journey mate. As previosly said the car has to go through a certain amount of cycles 1st and it may be a later cycle that finds the code.

Hence why it happens on a long journey.

[sporty_shorty_85]

ok!! i will c what they say later when i ring them! thanku x

[Sean_VTS]

ok!! i will c what they say later when i ring them! thanku x

No worries.

Maybe try a different garage?

[sporty_shorty_85]

well, garage have told me that they have put it back on diagnostics and it said lamber sensor again, they have tested the sensor and it working properley. they put it back on machine and then said wiring fault but didnt know where so basically after spending about 170, the fault is still there and they cant fix it as they dont know whats up with it

[saxova]

take your dash out, tape around the light. It won't bother you then >.<

Mines been on for about 2 months (Not 1 lamba sensor connected), and is running perfecto!

[sporty_shorty_85]

rang dealer and they want 50 plus vat to put it on a machine again, of which could go exactly through the same thing again.

[saxova]

sack that lol

[sporty_shorty_85]

ino i fuming!! as have paid out to get it fixed and they cant fix it!! i doubt they will give me money back!!!

[saxova]

just leave the light on? :S surely more trouble than its worth.

[titchster]

Mines been on for about 2 months (Not 1 lamba sensor connected), and is running perfecto!

I bet if you got the Air-to-fuel ratio checked it's not perfect if neither sensor is in. ;)

Would it be possible to ask the garage for the code it's coming up with?

My guess is that it's coming up on diag. as 'Lambda sensor circuit fault', so changing the sensor itself is not going to solve it, as the problem is in the wiring for the sensor. Hence why they've told you it's got a wiring problem.
Take it to an auto electrician, tell them you've had the engine management light keep popping up and that it keeps saying it's the Lambda, and ask them to have a look at the wiring, hopefully that should sort it.

[sporty_shorty_85]

could be - if its coming through as the circuit they have had me by charging for new sensor when doesnt need it though i think it may have needed firstr one!! some one said the ecu could have a bit of water in it causing to pop up - if it has, and i defintley not paying out for that!!! least i would know and get something to cover it to prevent anymore getting in! the car has always run fine, except the first one it did start eat more fuel, then it stopped when had it replaced. dont think these diagnostics machines are very good at diagnosing faults lol

[sporty_shorty_85]

might try asking for the code, or try citroen but thats 50. then if it doesnt work just take the bulb out maybe?? since the first time when drove like a snail all the way home being cautious, now i just ignore it and drive normal! up to now it has being running fine since, and its been serviced few months ago and was fine!

[sporty_shorty_85]

oh and thanx guys u have been a good help :)

[BobC]

Hi, good shout from titchster, get the code and post it here. Wiring faults to the oxygen sensor heater can trigger the light too.

That said, do check that the connectors to your sensors (green and blue) look ok and are fully connected.

There will be a grey & black wire (sensor signal) and two white wires (heater).

[scott_b1]

Hi, I've had the same problem on my totally standard 2003 - '52 plate saxo VTR.

I had to replace the cat because the mounting bracket which fixes the pipe to the gearbox had rusted away. I bought what I thought was a bargain. A brand new non genuine cat for about £80.

I finally fitted it after adjusting it with a hammer and re-drilling the mounting bracket due to the holes being out of line. My first problem !

After driving it for a few days the engine management light came on. After checking the obvious such as spark plugs , air filter etc I decided to take it to a garage so they could plug it into a diagnostics machine.

Straight away the guy told me that the cat was a cheap copy and that was the cause. The lambda sensors were working fine. This sounds correct to me as there was nothing wrong before I changed the cat.

The aftermarket / non citroen cats have only half to 2/3rds of the catalyst compared to a genuine version. The o2 sensors detect that the emmisions are higher than normal and the resuting 'Aged Cat' error comes up on the diagnostics machine.

So, all I can say is that you could change the Lambda sensors but it won't make any difference. It looks like you have the same smaller cat as me, so I guess it could be the same problem. However, my car did pass its MOT with flying colours - the emissions were fine so I suppose it doesn't really matter !!!

Does anyone know where I can get a PROPER cat from - Do I need to goto Citroen ?

It suppose this will be expensive?