Hi,
I am new to the forum so please bare with me
I purchased a C4 1 Xsara 1.4sx hatchback 2006 a couple of years ago
I started to notice it when first starting in a morning it idled a little rough and when trying to set off would hold and then suddenly go or try to stall,
also I had noticed that sometimes I could smell fuel.
Then During lockdown as I wasn't using it much and not going far I got a warning of a anti pollution fault and it was like the car felt like it was losing power and noticed water and lot of black soot particles mixed in. lke the engine when idling was dying at the end of each cycle of pistons
This was Just before the coronavirus lockdown in March I had a new Timing belt and water pump fitted and had the Engine warning light and anti pollution fault. flashing on the LCD dashboard checked. the mechanic did the timing belt and water pump and said he had checked and cleared the codes and said it was showing something to do with the fuel ?.
I am no mechanic so was left baffled. Anyway car seemed to drive ok and light was off
Then 3 weeks later the light came back on and was told take it for a run so i drove down the motorway a fair distance and the day after the light had gone off.
A few days later it was back on.
I also then got a ABS stop warning light which stayed on for a few days then went off.
I then went to another mechanic a friend of a friend who had a quick look found a code for Front Lambda Sensor, a little water in the Fuesbox under the bonnet were the relays are hidden and ECU etc, so cleaned this check the prongs under the main electrical plugs and wiring cleaned and treated with wd40 one side of the box not holding down properly so electrical tape as temp fix after cleaning.
He was busy so said he wasnt sure if a pin had snapped off.
So I and he knows a auto electrician who does diagnostics etc.
He looked said there wasnt no pin snapped as there wasnt one there.
So I booked it into him at £40 a hr not bad wage.
He tested and came up with Lambda sensor and the ABS pump needs replacement.
Just my luck ABS pump EXPENSIVE I BELIEVE HELP
the car was bought as a second car to give to my daughter fir her and her daughter as she is having lessons.
so I have been using it insuring and fitting new battery, tyres, brakes, brake discs.
I bought it off a friend who is also a mechanic but old school and not upto date with electrics but the best mechanic with bikes and cars as long as mechanical not electrical.
Anyway I fitted the new Front Lambda sensor on saturday which I purchased at £66 Bosch
The car started and drove perfect all day but light not extinguished which it will do itself if the fault is not present I believe. I took for a good run down a local A road over the weekend. to clear the exhaust system etc each day still the light is on
the next day noticed a little holding and the day after yesterday more and missing sometimes or holding etc when setting off when doing 40 or more its fine the problem is mainly when cold holding rough idle etc.
I have looked at videos of this on youtube and one was caused by relay in main fuseboard under bonnet and the whole part has to be exchanged as relays are fixed under where main wires go cant remember the parts name where ecu is and all main wiring connnects to.
the other caused by a coolant sensor causing it to run hot and cold
Anybody got any help and advice I really would appreciate going back to see the mechanic and the electrician who kindly relieved me of £40 to tell me what the first mechanic told me for free
Regards to all in the forum
So to me there is something else causing this problem and then probably chocking the lAmbda sensor up