LAMBDA SENSOR

What is a lambda sensor?

The lambda sensor’s purpose is to reduce the amount of poisonous fumes in the exhaust gasses. The lambda sensor is located between the engine exit and the catalytic converter.

The lambda sensor is in fact an electronic device that measures the composition of the exhaust fumes and transfers the information to the ECU calculator which in turn adapts the fuel/air mixture in the engine accordingly.

Even though you don’t use a lambda sensor like you do your brake pads for example, it is considered a car part sensitive to wear. The lambda sensor therefore ought to be checked every 18 500 miles.

Lambda sensor problems that might occur when the part is in bad condition include:

- bad analyses resulting in the exhaust of poisonous fumes into the atmosphere.
- damage to other exhaust parts including the catalytic converter
- increased use of petrol

There are two different types of lambda sensors: the measuring sensor and the regulating sensor. The measuring sensor is located in front of the catalytic converter and the regulating sensor behind.