Lambda sensor issue.....?

[POC]

I had an engine light pop up on the car, performance didnt seem to be effected (as limited as I could test in the icy conditions), upton startup I thought the exhaust smell in the car was a little stronger than I had noticed before, this could have of course been in my mind.

Popped the car to my local garage who plugged in the his little snap-on computer and read the fault as the lambda sensor throwing a wobbley.   Cleared the fault and it hasnt come back after a few miles of driving.

So Im theorising about what triggered it.  My initial idea is that with the snow/ice conditions I've been using the ESP pretty heavily, i'm assuming the ESP cuts the throttle and ditches and fuel/air into the exhaust, lambda then reads this as very rich etc and throws up a warning?

My other theory is that the 3in Intake system along with the 3in maf housing is confusing the ecu, getting it to chuck in more fuel, running rich and again causing said lambda to spit its dummy.......?

Thats about my limit when it comes to figuring posh engines out 

What do you lot rekon?

Cheers, paul

[bacillus]

My other theory is that the 3in Intake system along with the 3in maf housing is confusing the ecu, getting it to chuck in more fuel, running rich and again causing said lambda to spit its dummy.......?
Cheers, paul

Unless you have a special map that takes that oversize maf housing diamater into its parameters then I think that's your problem.

[PDT]

'lambda sensor throwing a wobbley' means nothing at all. Theres 10's of faults that could fall under the category of lambda sensor, find a local specialist with better diagnostic equipment and knowledge of your engine type and go from there.

[chowgar]

I had the same light come on not too long ago and after a diagnostic at the dealers they found it to be a loose air intake hose... Reconnected and all has been fine since (fingers crossed touch wood).

Like said before there could be Many causes. My light went out as I believe it's on a key cycle so turns itself off though the fault stays logged.

T

[POC]

well we reset the light and I've done c.50miles since so I'll see if it makes another appearence and go from there.  cheers for the info.

[S2 Ant]

Think you're not far from me in the world and i've recently used TotalVAG in Leighton Buzzard for some work, so could give them a shout if you need a better diagnostic reading, sure they'd be able to help

[POC]

Cheers boss, I've just emailed them as I need to have the cambelt/waterpump done too.

Paul