New Lambda question...help please :)

[cliogerbil]

Hi

I have a B18FT engine in my Clio and have been having running issues. Its not great at starting and the idle is all over the place almost stalling and then going high and back down again. Sometimes it even cuts out when cold but gets a bit better as it gets warmer. There is also not much power with some juddering when driving.

I believe I may need a lambda sensor on mine as it has a green ECU. Is this correct? I currently don''t have one fitted but I dont know the year of the engine to check.

If this is the case, is it one of the below parts?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-460-L-1 ... 4619b4d7e5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-480-E-1 ... 2c7d35fd99

I presume if it needs a lambda i can just drill into the exhaust, tap it and screw it in?

I can provide a video of the problem if necessary.

Any help is much appreciated.

[Ade]

Could be ICV, I had similar issues instantly cured by 'borrowing' the ICV off my Saab 9000 carlsson (same management system)

Have you done this conversion recently or has the engine run correctly before in the Clio?

[Ade]

Sorry, just read your post properly, lack of power won't be ICV related.

[cliogerbil]

The engine has run fine before in this car and was from another donor clio. Thinking about it, the problems started when the bonnet was left off at one point and it rained. I'm wondering if the ECU or something else has got wet. I'm thinking if it ran fine before with no lambda then it wont be that..hmm tricky.

This might sound like a long shot but could it be something like a dodgy battery not giving enough voltage? i need to get it checked out as i'm not sure its too clever. I suppose i could check some basics first like plugs and MAF hotwire.

By the way it has had a new rotor, leads and dizzy cap very recently and has been checked by the AA so isn't that.

[Ade]

As long as the alternator is charging properly then a dodgy battery shouldn't cause running issues. Wouldn't have thought so anyway. The engine bay getting wet may well have something to do with it. Was the battery connected during the wetness?
If it was then the water may well have shorted something out and damaged it. MAF could be a possibility.

[cliogerbil]

I'll do some checks today. Just a quick thought. Could it be the EGR valve? I've noticed that if i put my hand on it, it kind of vibrates..is that normal?

[cliogerbil]

sorry the part i thought was the EGR is the ICV..lol..i'm not a good mechanic.

[Alan 480]

poor idling could well be the ICV, OR if it got wet there isa small switch fixed to throtlle butterfly that determines if the engine 'should be idling' it gives different resistance depending on throttle closed (ie idle) or open
look at resistance on following pins on switch:-


try these with engine stopped and disconnected
if shut
2 - 18 approx 10ohms
3 - 18 open circuit

this changes over when wide open

2 - 18 open cicuit
3 - 18 approx 10Ohms

idle valve tests are:-
3-4 20Ohms
3 -5 40 ohms
4 -5 20 ohms

then if feeling brave
ICV middle pin should be near battery voltage
outer pins are LESS but change with load, not sure how you test the latter