Lambda Light

[Crazy_C]

Hey guys, I'm new to the whole Volvo thing, and I picked up a 1996 850 T5 auto wagon last week and it has the lambda light on.

From what I've read, this is to do with the emissions, am I correct? And would indicate either a shot lambda sensor or MAF sensor I am guessing as they're the only parts associated with the emissions systems.


With regards to the lambda sensors, as they're going to be cheaper to replace than the MAF sensor, I have only really found the front ones online? Are there 2 lambda sensors on the 850's? A front (pre-cat) and rear (post-cat) sensor? If so, which one is the one more common to fail?



Cheers

[preacher38]

i have a 1998 v70r and had the same problem turned out to be nowt but a fault on the system somewhere , got it reset and away i went .... then it came back , so i took the battery lead off for a short while and hey presto it went again ... if the car drives fine then dont worry , if it doesnt then go see the bank manager and prey ..... good luck fella ...

[Crazy_C]

Thing drives like a charm, does about 20mpg on average, and that's about a 65 / 35 split of town / highway driving which I was under the impression was normal for one of these, especially the T5.

I can fix most things on cars either myself or at a mate's garage so doesn't cost me too much at all (I have friends who run scrap yards so I get bargains there too) but it helped with bartering the guy down on the price lol


Cheers man

[JelT5]

My lambdas been on for ages...but then I'm running a remap and a MBC (coughs) but the car runs great and I've done about 10K miles with that set up. The lambda came on when an intercooler pipe blew off the turbo so not reallya problem. Best thing is to get the codes read to be on the safe side bud

[5seaterT5x2]

Hey guys, I'm new to the whole Volvo thing, and I picked up a 1996 850 T5 auto wagon last week and it has the lambda light on.

From what I've read, this is to do with the emissions, am I correct? And would indicate either a shot lambda sensor or MAF sensor I am guessing as they're the only parts associated with the emissions systems.


With regards to the lambda sensors, as they're going to be cheaper to replace than the MAF sensor, I have only really found the front ones online? Are there 2 lambda sensors on the 850's? A front (pre-cat) and rear (post-cat) sensor? If so, which one is the one more common to fail?


Cheers

thing to do is get the codes read before you go doing any money, and on my 95 t5 there is only one lambda sensor.got mine of these guys............................... http://www.lambdasensor.com/main/volvo.htm

[danny-R]

i suspect the little rubber vacuum pipe elbow has come off the left side of manifold.
your mpg figures are the same as mine when i bought it, it's worth a try, but it is fiddly to get to.
good luck

[p fandango]

as its a 1996 i'm guessing you won't have the under bonnet diagnostics so this'll help read the codes, no point replacing anything there are many reasons the light could be on

LINK

[Crazy_C]

i suspect the little rubber vacuum pipe elbow has come off the left side of manifold.
your mpg figures are the same as mine when i bought it, it's worth a try, but it is fiddly to get to.
good luck

Had a quick look and can't see any pipes come off on the manifold. Where abouts is it? Just on the left hand side or is it down below other stuff?

Cheers

[danny-R]

as you look at the engine from the front, its on the left side of the manifold .

somebody on here kindly put a pic up to show me, will try to find it now.

http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthre...manifold+elbow

not my thread but just to give you an idea.....

[Crazy_C]

That's cool, cheers man. I didn't spot anything round there, but I did spot that there was a vac line off the MAF sensor so I reckon that'd probably do it.

Do I need to disconnect the ECU / battery with these cars to do a reset on the system? Reason I ask is cos the light is still on.


Cheers.

[cameron]

Remove the ecu over night and it should reset itself

[Crazy_C]

Cool, cheers man. Newbie question time.................where is the ECU??

[p fandango]

Cool, cheers man. Newbie question time.................where is the ECU??

drivers side in the box behind the headlight, the engine ECU is in the middle slot out of the 3

you might have a metal strap securing the box lid down, simply drill out the pop-rivet

[cameron]

Yip as pedro saidd before ............

[Crazy_C]

Awesome, cheers man, will try and get the rivet thing out tomorrow. It's not a pop rivet in mine, but a round headed bolt that's rusty as hell (unless that's what it's supposed to be) but will try and get that out tomorrow before I go to work so I can take the ECU out tomorrow night





Ooooooh, daaammnn, that's a clean engine!!!