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Author Topic: Can you clean a lambda sensor?  (Read 1665 times)

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JamesV6CDX

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Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« on: 18 May 2008, 23:25:23 »

Still got a fault code for the O2 sensor that's not clearing.

Should I replace (If so, where to source and do I need to bend over)?

Or, can they be cleaned?

If the lambda has been poisoned, guess the Cat may have seen better days?
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tmx

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #1 on: 18 May 2008, 23:43:07 »

i tried it on my v6 vec there is a guide if you search google for lamba sensor there is a very good guide on cleaning + diagnosis
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Omegatoy

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #2 on: 19 May 2008, 08:48:10 »

Quote
Still got a fault code for the O2 sensor that's not clearing.

Should I replace (If so, where to source and do I need to bend over)?

Or, can they be cleaned?

If the lambda has been poisoned, guess the Cat may have seen better days?

headgasketgone will always kill a lambda mate, its not the cat its the antifreeze that kills it change it!!!! :y

Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #3 on: 19 May 2008, 08:56:12 »

Quote
Still got a fault code for the O2 sensor that's not clearing.

Should I replace (If so, where to source and do I need to bend over)?

Or, can they be cleaned?

If the lambda has been poisoned, guess the Cat may have seen better days?

Yes you can, they get coated by the antifreeze etc.

The way to do it is put it in an ultrasonic bath for 30+minutes with a good cleaning solution.
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JamesV6CDX

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #4 on: 19 May 2008, 10:10:01 »

And if I don't have an ultrasonic bath?  ;)  ::)  :D
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #5 on: 19 May 2008, 10:25:28 »

Quote
And if I don't have an ultrasonic bath?  ;)  ::)  :D


Then you cant clean them..........
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JamesV6CDX

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #6 on: 19 May 2008, 10:32:02 »

Quote
Quote
And if I don't have an ultrasonic bath?  ;)  ::)  :D


Then you cant clean them..........

Back to stage one then - who's the best (cheapest!) supplier for them?
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Marks DTM Calib

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #7 on: 19 May 2008, 10:34:18 »

Quote
Quote
Quote
And if I don't have an ultrasonic bath?  ;)  ::)  :D


Then you cant clean them..........

Back to stage one then - who's the best (cheapest!) supplier for them?

Can you get one off a breaker?
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JamesV6CDX

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #8 on: 19 May 2008, 10:39:19 »

I'll post up a wanted ad :y
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #9 on: 19 May 2008, 10:41:00 »

You can sometimes burn off the contaminants by heating in a gas flame from a blowtorch and/or powering up the internal heater element in free air for a while IME. However, if it didn't come to life after a drive your chances of success will be limited.

if you go the replacement route bear in mind the 4 pot sensor is a titania type not the more common zirconia so avoid "universal" replacements and get one that's correct for the car.

Kevin
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TheBoy

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #10 on: 19 May 2008, 11:00:34 »

Quote
Quote
Still got a fault code for the O2 sensor that's not clearing.

Should I replace (If so, where to source and do I need to bend over)?

Or, can they be cleaned?

If the lambda has been poisoned, guess the Cat may have seen better days?

Yes you can, they get coated by the antifreeze etc.

The way to do it is put it in an ultrasonic bath for 30+minutes with a good cleaning solution.
Wonder if my brother (the jellewer one) will let me put dirty lamdas in his ultrasonic jellery cleaner ::)
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #11 on: 19 May 2008, 11:25:45 »

Quote
Wonder if my brother (the jellewer one) will let me put dirty lamdas in his ultrasonic jellery cleaner Roll Eyes

 :y

I keep seeing ultrasonic baths on Ebay and have wondered about getting one. Problem is, I've never got an immediate use for one when I think about it. I'm sure it's one of those things that I would find all sorts of uses for if I had one.

Kevin
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Machinmacone

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #12 on: 19 May 2008, 17:39:22 »

Hi

Would one like this do the job and what about the water and electric problem??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PRO-ULTRASONIC-JEWELLERY-CLEANER-Ultra-3800-SONIC_W0QQitemZ310050323263QQihZ021QQcategoryZ67720QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262


    Oh it's not me thats selling them by the way But if you can revive old sensors with these why isn't someone offering a cleaning service.

                       Cheers Julian.
                      ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
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philhoward

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #13 on: 19 May 2008, 19:44:21 »

I've heard from more than one source that it has to be a Propane blowtorch - something along the lines of blast it till you can read a voltage from the signal wires (Grey/Black?).  Apparently they can also be tested (when hot, naturally) with a normal gas lighter (not being lit) which will send the voltage back down to 0.2V (should be about 0.8-1.0V in the propane flame).

Not tried it myself - was going to on a mate's sensor until he removed it and it rattled - problem identified in that case!
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Can you clean a lambda sensor?
« Reply #14 on: 19 May 2008, 23:18:39 »

This is true. You can test them in a gas flame (or even just firre up the heater in the sensor - making sure it's a straight 12v one rather than one that needs a controlled current source, and shoot some unburnt gas into it).

However, as the 2.0 one is a titania sensor it'll need to be plugged into a powered-up ECU before you can measure any voltage at the output since, AFAICR, this type of sensor doesn't generate a voltage, unlike a zirconia type.

Kevin
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