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[FRE07962128]

When I started working on cars after going to evening classes and having a retired professional mechanic train me in the basics many years ago the breakdown or faults on cars were usually caused simply by component failure. That resulted in either servicing or replacing the unit in question. With decades of experience at stripping down engines / cars and reading up fully before each job, I learnt to carryout most procedures and recognising faults .

Is it just my perception or a reality that I now note that all so often, when a member has a problem, it is so often a case of a 'Sensor' playing up rather than the actual main component simply becoming faulty :-/ :-/ :-/.  

Why is this; how many sensors are there on an Omega, and what do they all do please?  Is there such a thing as a general list of sensors, locations, functions and faults that can be witnessed please? :-? :-?

Lizzie Zoom, desparetly trying to tackle with 21st century mechanics!

[robbo299]

Hi Lizzie, I think that would quite an interesting list if it would be possible to do. Some models may have different sensors than others. As an example, i only found out quite a while after i bought my miggy estate that it had sensors on the rear quarterlights to detect the glass being broken and was part of the alarm system!  Agree with you about sensors rather than components causing more problems as i work as a maintenance engineer in a large manufacturing factory, where the vast majority of our "breakdowns" of production machines are caused by either faulty sensors or incorrectly set ones. This happens on a regular basis. Quite frightening when you think of it as sensors on our miggys could be up to 12 years old and are working in a far harsher enviroment.    

[FRE07962128]

Hi Lizzie, I think that would quite an interesting list if it would be possible to do. Some models may have different sensors than others. As an example, i only found out quite a while after i bought my miggy estate that it had sensors on the rear quarterlights to detect the glass being broken and was part of the alarm system!  Agree with you about sensors rather than components causing more problems as i work as a maintenance engineer in a large manufacturing factory, where the vast majority of our "breakdowns" of production machines are caused by either faulty sensors or incorrectly set ones. This happens on a regular basis. Quite frightening when you think of it as sensors on our miggys could be up to 12 years old and are working in a far harsher enviroment.    

Thanks Robbo299! It is not my imagination then that these sensors are a problem in their own right.  Obviously neither of us can turn the technological clock back but what is the answer to this?  Can these sensors be 'serviced' to avoid 'breakdowns'?  Can they be disconnected, or does this cause more problems than it solves? :-/ :-/

A sensor covering the quarterlight glass eh?!!  We do need that list IF it was possible to produce!

[robbo299]

Hi, Regarding sevicing the sensors. By all means clean them if possible. Check them on a regular basis would be good and should be part of a regular maintenance check. But like you say, if you don't know what or where they are that could be a bit difficult. Like i said in my reply, i had a problem with my alarm going off all the time and after reading posts on the forum about the same problem only noticed by chance, when cleaning out the boot of the estate, the sensors on the rear quartelights. No one had mentioned this on any of the posts i had read about possible alarm faults.

[TheBoy]

Can't remember exact number, but elites have something like 17 computers on board, each with an array of sensors.

Just sticking with engine management for now, all injected cars have similar sensors now to run the management system.  Virtually all cars are injected to pass emmissions now.

Due to better materials and manufacturing (and better lubricants), mechanical failure/wear is less than it used to be.

[Marks DTM Calib]

E.g........V6 Omega (2.5/3.0)

Sensors
Crank shaft sensor - Can be problematic but, normally lasts for 100K miles
Cam shaft sensor - Not seen one fail yet
2 knock sensors - Only seen trouble with these when they have been physically damaged through carelessness.
Throttle pot - In theory they wear out but, not seen any hard evidence of this personally
Mass Air Flow (MAF sensor) - Uber reliable!
Air temp sensor - Never seen one fail
Coolant temp sensor - Very reliable, rare failure point
2 Lambda sensors - Very reliable, can be damaged by contamination


Actuators
3 Vac actuators (2 for multi-ram, one for air injection) - Only seen them damaged, not failed
EGR - very rare failure, normally possible to recover through cleaning.
Carbon canister solenoid - not seen one fail yet, could be damaged though.


Others
DIS pack - good for 100K plus and may last longer, tends to suffer from the iron core resulting so water leaks can cause failure.
Various relays - Uber reliable



So, yes, there are quite a few but, only really one that causes an issue and that is generally good for 100K miles and if you consider a carb engine, the carb would be well buggered by that mileage!

[Marks DTM Calib]

As for ECU's

Engine
Autobox (for the infirm)
Servotronic steering
Self leveling suspension
ABS
Airbag
Headlight leveling
Alarm/central locking
Radio
CD changer
Display
Instruments
Immobiliser
Sunroof
Climate control
Electric windows
Sat Nav
Traffic master
Seat memory


They all have thier own microprocessors.

Even some of the sensors have micros (i.e. the headlight leveling sensors!)

[FRE07962128]

As for ECU's

Engine
Autobox (for the infirm)
Servotronic steering
Self leveling suspension
ABS
Airbag
Headlight leveling
Alarm/central locking
Radio
CD changer
Display
Instruments
Immobiliser
Sunroof
Climate control
Electric windows
Sat Nav
Traffic master
Seat memory


They all have thier own microprocessors.

Even some of the sensors have micros (i.e. the headlight leveling sensors!)

Thanks for all this...I am learning all the time!  I will soon be up to 21st Century mechanical - or is it electrical - standards!!

Could all this be permanently placed under 'Technical Info' if it is not already there hidden someone and I've been too blind to see it!

Thanks Mark , Administrator, you do a great job!

[FRE07962128]

Sensors
Crank shaft sensor - Can be problematic but, normally lasts for 100K miles
Cam shaft sensor - Not seen one fail yet
2 knock sensors - Only seen trouble with these when they have been physically damaged through carelessness.
Throttle pot - In theory they wear out but, not seen any hard evidence of this personally
Mass Air Flow (MAF sensor) - Uber reliable!
Air temp sensor - Never seen one fail
Coolant temp sensor - Very reliable, rare failure point
2 Lambda sensors - Very reliable, can be damaged by contamination


Actuators
3 Vac actuators (2 for multi-ram, one for air injection) - Only seen them damaged, not failed
EGR - very rare failure, normally possible to recover through cleaning.
Carbon canister solenoid - not seen one fail yet, could be damaged though.


Others
DIS pack - good for 100K plus and may last longer, tends to suffer from the iron core resulting so water leaks can cause failure.
Various relays - Uber reliable



So, yes, there are quite a few but, only really one that causes an issue and that is generally good for 100K miles and if you consider a carb engine, the carb would be well buggered by that mileage!  
Back to top    

As for ECU's

Engine
Autobox (for the infirm)
Servotronic steering
Self leveling suspension
ABS
Airbag
Headlight leveling
Alarm/central locking
Radio
CD changer
Display
Instruments
Immobiliser
Sunroof
Climate control
Electric windows
Sat Nav
Traffic master
Seat memory


They all have thier own microprocessors.

Even some of the sensors have micros (i.e. the headlight leveling sensors!)

As previously asked can this great information be permanently placed on the Tech Info section Mark for all members future reference?

[hotel21]

done....

[Marks DTM Calib]

If I get chance, I will enhance it with pics and engine locations plus links to how they work.

[Kevin Wood]

The thing to remember is that a modern engine will run happily with no adjustment for life. Try that with a car that's got a carb and distributor instead. So, the odd little niggle is nothing in comparison to the extra TLC that pre-EFI cars needed.

Kevin

[FRE07962128]

If I get chance, I will enhance it with pics and engine locations plus links to how they work.

Thanks for putting this onto 'Tech Info' Hotel21, and yes Mark if you can put clarifying pictures on to the lists so much the better!