icv problem? lambda faulty? please read

13th February 2010, 20:05

hey guys i used the great old search button but couldnt find anything quite like my problem.

first thing in the morning i start my car as normal. due to the bad weather i have been scrapping ice off my windscreen. i heard the engine start chugging like the revs have dropped, so jumped into my car to find engine management light flashing then stayed on. drove to work panicking about the light. went to kwik fit. they wanted 30 quid and an hours wait. i jumped back in my car. light off without test?

sat at the traffic lights the first day i brought it. rev's went from 1k to 800 up and down untill i revved then returned to normal...

im going to clean the icv tomorrow to see if it corrects the problem

but can anybody shed any light on this matter.

idles ok then goes lumpy EML comes on.
revs drop and pick up ranging from 1k to 800.

the engine is on 110k but runs fine. im currently saving for a service kit from my mate as it does need a good service.

does it need a good service and clean and problem solved?

or does this go to sensor problems?

13th February 2010, 20:15

i have the same problem mate, start the car cold, after idle revs will chug etc, turn ignition off and back on and its perfect, only seems to be cold start. next thing on my list is change the lambda sensor

13th February 2010, 20:50

Mines exactly the same as yours !! Is this what yours does ? .... http://s779.photobucket.com/albums/y...t=MVI_4939.flv . I would like to know what this is aswell but no one really replied

I've cleaned the idle control valve but that didnt help ..

13th February 2010, 20:56

exactly the same problem!!!!! i mean down to eml and revs. but i have fuel in my car

haha

13th February 2010, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saxo-Guy

Mines exactly the same as yours !! Is this what yours does ? .... http://s779.photobucket.com/albums/y...t=MVI_4939.flv . I would like to know what this is aswell but no one really replied

I've cleaned the idle control valve but that didnt help ..

exactly the same as that video for me, - anyone know?

13th February 2010, 21:01

Well i know its not good ! But im glad im not the only one !!

Because everyone else had problems with cutting out or revving upto 4k by itself but mine was nothing like that ! And yeah petrol would be good

So have either off you changed anything yet ?

13th February 2010, 21:12

nope im cleaning icv and injectors tomorrow. im sick of it. im not inlove with it while its playing up

13th February 2010, 21:18

yeah its well annoying !! Okay well tell me how you get on and whether it solves it !=p

13th February 2010, 21:19

will do matey, got myself nextdoors garage as they dont drive

so will be warm and dry while doing it

13th February 2010, 21:29

ahh thats alrite then !!! Im suprised no one else on this forum could shed some light on this :/ Ahh well theres 3 of us with the same problem, so should have it sorted soon

13th February 2010, 22:40

Also the air temperature sensor will affect cold starting also a coil pack thats on its way out don`t rule out the alternator as if its giving intermittent voltage then your car won`t run smoothly.Mines doing the same have changed everything bar the coilpack and its had a full service the problem went away for 3 weeks now its back but intermitently if its not my coilpack then i`ll change the fuel pump.

Bloody saxo`s there a money pit.

Steve.

13th February 2010, 23:07

I already changed coilpacks and new spark plugs,changed my injectors, fuel pump, and crank sensor.

Problem seems to dissapear with new plugs for up to 4 days, going down lambda sensor route now

14th February 2010, 20:38

mattymcn is your car any better after changing parts ?

14th February 2010, 20:40

valentines day today :/ missus day

14th February 2010, 20:48

ahh so you forgot today was valentines day

alrite okay well tell me when you do mate

17th February 2010, 16:37

any updates?

17th February 2010, 16:43

definitely think its a lambda problem pal

.. has it been shit on fuel?

18th February 2010, 17:30

yeah any updates ?:/ my mates dad seems to think its the lambda

18th February 2010, 17:55

Lambda Sensor? Had this issue on the old 106 couple of years back. Changed that, also gave it a full sevice and problem solved. Got rid of the engine management light too.

Turned out I'd got some duff fuel from tesco (thanks, ^&*£$*&") and it had coated and messed up the Lambda.

18th February 2010, 20:02

Okay well it seems it might be worthwhile buying a lambda sensor . Does anyone know where i can buy one from ?

18th February 2010, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saxo-Guy

Okay well it seems it might be worthwhile buying a lambda sensor . Does anyone know where i can buy one from ?

i got a universal one from a motor factors near me. £60 though, and needed wiring to the multiplug which was a bit of a ballache!

18th February 2010, 20:44

i bought a universal one of ebay 17.99 free delivery needs wiring in but its dead easy

18th February 2010, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by leighwinter

i bought a universal one of ebay 17.99 free delivery needs wiring in but its dead easy

motherf...

18th February 2010, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinkostu

motherf...

recived it today and fitted it before still holds back though

18th February 2010, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinkostu

motherf...

i proper giggled at this!!! lmao

unfortunately im selling my vtr as i cant insure the thing come to renewal! :'(

hopefully somebody can fix the lambda problem

19th February 2010, 19:03

are the universal ones just as good ? are they still 4 plug ?

21st February 2010, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saxo-Guy

are the universal ones just as good ? are they still 4 plug ?

some are, some need wiring splicing in, you can buy citroen saxo specific ones cheap enough mate..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Direct-fit...item3ca6aef295

21st February 2010, 13:46

often this problem is down to fueling. if there is a faulty injector itll cause this problem ( it will b on 3 cylinders) or if the fuel pump is bein a shithouse... im sooooo glad i dont have this problem cos it is possibly the most anooying thing in the world because about 10 different things could cause this...

22nd February 2010, 19:38

thanks Lew_C

29th March 2010, 10:34

just to let you know matty, its still doing it. albeit not often. am i right in thinking it was fluctuating between 500 and 800, then a quick rev and its fine?

funny thing is, the engine light was on last week and it idled fine..

gonna wang off the lambda at some point

29th March 2010, 11:48

Coolant temp sensor can do it as well,if it´s fcked it sent wrong data to ECU,mine shows -40°C so it was overfuelling like a hell...

29th March 2010, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by misulko

Coolant temp sensor can do it as well,if it´s fcked it sent wrong data to ECU,mine shows -40°C so it was overfuelling like a hell...

on top of rad, passengers side?

if so, i'll have a look. i assume unplugging it will make the ECU default?

29th March 2010, 11:55

yes,it´s on the passenger side(i was bit consufed because we have LHD cars

) it sits on the thermostat housing.Unplugging won´t reset ECU.Only citroen diagnostic is able to reset ECU.Just changing the sensor didn´t help at my case.

29th March 2010, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by misulko

yes,it´s on the passenger side(i was bit consufed because we have LHD cars

) it sits on the thermostat housing.Unplugging won´t reset ECU.Only citroen diagnostic is able to reset ECU.Just changing the sensor didn´t help at my case.

nah, i meant as in would the ECU just take a default value and (theoretically) the car runs ok

29th March 2010, 12:11

If you uplug that sensor,revs should jump up,it won´t be run OK,but should be "better" ,fan will kick in and the temp gauge will show overheating so don´t worry...