Citroen Picasso Lambda sensor

[neo]

Hardest part of the job is finding a spanner to fit them. Ideally you need the correct socket (socket with a hole cut in the side to slip the wires through) but you can do them with a ring spanner most of the time.
Just unplug the wires, unscrew the sensor, screw in new sensor and plug in the wires. Not 100% sure if the ECU will need resetting, but probably disconnecting the battery for a while will get round this (not too sure on citroens but works with most makes)

INSERT SIG HERE
******** VAG Tech Advice *********
If it dont run right cold, change the blue temp sender.
If it aint got a spark, check earths, coil connections.
If it idles like ****, clean the ISV and throttle body.
For all other problems, use a hammer

[mattie]

Cheers buddy, most helpful and most appreciated.

I was wondering why GSF sold a lambda tool!  I'll see if I have a ring spanner to fit.  Out of interest, is it easy to access if I can't get the car up in the air?  From what I gather, it's on the manifold, but is it easier to get to from underneath?  (I appreciate this may vary from car to car, I'm just interested whether there are general problems that need addressing)

Finally, how much driving is acceptable before I get this fixed?  I know poor a/f ratios can knock lumps out of the cat, how long does it take before damage occurs?  I'm not going to drive miles, but the car is needed for the odd trip in thew short term.

Cheers again,
Matt

[neo]

It's advisable to change at your earliest convenience! Cat's are a hell of alot more expensive than lambda probes!
May help if the exhaust system is warm before you take it out as it's probably pretty tight in there, just watch you hands for getting burned!
As for position, not a clue where it is, but should be fairly accessable.

INSERT SIG HERE
******** VAG Tech Advice *********
If it dont run right cold, change the blue temp sender.
If it aint got a spark, check earths, coil connections.
If it idles like ****, clean the ISV and throttle body.
For all other problems, use a hammer

[mattie]

Cheers again, much appreciated.

Do you know if it's possible to reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery?  I want to see if it's an intermittent fault, but I suspect the warning light won't go away.  I'll give the connections for the lambda probes a good clean, if I can get my hands on them!

[neo]

For the price of a new one i'd change it before you blow the cat into a million pieces!

INSERT SIG HERE
******** VAG Tech Advice *********
If it dont run right cold, change the blue temp sender.
If it aint got a spark, check earths, coil connections.
If it idles like ****, clean the ISV and throttle body.
For all other problems, use a hammer

[mattie]

Cheers Neo, the car is now grounded until I get it sorted!

I must admit to being a little confused by the parts, which one(s)would I need?

[mattie]

Car: 02 plate citroen picasso 1.8l

The engine warning light has flashed up again - it came on a few weeks ago, took it in and the garage said it was the lambda sensors.  They reset the ecu and the fault cleared, so no more done at that time.

However, as the light has appeared again I'm assuming (always a risky strategy!) that it's the sensors again - basically, I object to paying over £50 just for somebody to connect a cable and press 'run' on some computer..  Are these sensors easy to change, and if I do so (and the fault is repaired) will the warning automatically reset itself, or will I still have to pay somebody to reset it?

Many thanks