Which Lambda sensor? - Saxperience

dwhite4245 · 15th January 2009, 13:54

A local Citroen dealer ran a diagnostic on my daughter's 1999 S-reg Saxo Stateside 1.1 as it seems to have a flat spot and erratic idle.
They recommended replacing the Lambda sensor and the Injector (throttle) body. As they've quoted £150 for the sensor and £550 for the throttle body (without VAT or fitting!) this would be an uneconomic repair as the car's only worth about £800.
The mechanic suggested fitting a new Lambda sensor first to see if it fixes
the problem so I thought I'd trawl round for a better price and I did find
one from an ebay reseller for about £30 which is part # 16287S.
The dealer has quoted for part # 16289W and I've found numerous sites seem to indicate these are interchangeable on the 1.1 60bhp HDZ engine but the Citroen mechanic has said it's not recommended to fit the 16287S as it can't be guaranteed it will control emissions to MOT standard.
Do any of you experts out there know if he's BS'ing me or am I going to have
to bite the bullet and pay more for a 16289W?
As the sensor may not fix the problem I don't want to have to pay any more than I have to.
Thanks, Dave.

Liam_ · 15th January 2009, 14:25

To be honest mate, I was under the impression that all lambda sensors are pretty much the same - as long as you interchange them for ones with the same colour connector, i.e. green for pre CAT and blue post CAT. Can normally get them for £35 from a breakers.

Don't think I've heard of a lambda sensor causing an erratic idle - it's normally down to a faulty coolant temperature sensor or idle control valve. Both of these are available from eBay at reasonable prices. Might be worth having the car run on a diagnostic machine to narrow the problem down - avoid Citroen at all costs... a Pug/ Cit specialist would be much better.

lordlucan83 · 15th January 2009, 21:08

Picked up a lambda sensor from euro car parts for bout
£60 last week

Olly · 15th January 2009, 22:17

pm this guy for a throttle body hes breaking a 1.1 saxo mk2
'saxospares'

SaxoJamie · 15th January 2009, 23:34

get it diagnosed first. might not be lambda sensor that is causing the problem. if it is though get one 2nd hand from a scrappy or somewhere if you can mate

lambda's can be expensive

dwhite4245 · 16th January 2009, 14:10

Hi guys....it was the dignostic machine at a main Citroen dealer that suggested that the lambda sensor and/or injector/throttle body needed replacing. As the lambda sensor is cheaper (and easy to fit!) I was going to try that first.