Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes...

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 14:27
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Olga Danes-Volkov

I'm thinking of buying a Ford Focus automatic (broken leg means I can't drive manual any more). The one I'm taken by has an engine management warning light on. Should I steer very clear? My son's focus has had this and it was the speed sensor. The trade seller says he thinks it's the Lamda sensor. I have been buying cheap motors all my (long) life but modern engines do bamboozle me. Any thoughts?

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 14:33
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Ian D
You need to read the fault codes, a cheapo £30 reader may do the trick or more a specialised reader may be required....
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Mon 12 Sep 2016 14:36
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Gibbo_Wirral

Avoid any car with the engine light on.

Also make sure the light actually DOES come on with the ignition and goes off when started.

Avoid any car where the seller says its a cheap easy fix. If it was that cheap and easy they'd do it themselves.

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 14:40
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Ian D
You need to read the fault codes, a £25 cheapo reader may get to the bottom of it or more specialised diagnostics may be needed ...
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Mon 12 Sep 2016 15:08
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - bathtub tom

Isn't that an MOT failure nowadays?

If so wouldn't that put the dealer in dodgy position, as they'd be selling an unroadworthy car?

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 15:26
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Pondlife

It's not a fail; it's an advisory.

I drove my previous car for two years with the MIL on before I sold it, and had no problem getting it through the MOT.

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 16:08
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - madf

If the seller is too lazy or poor to afford sorting out an OBVIOUS fault, what else has he ignored/bodged?

Run away.. he's the kind of sller who screws people.

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 16:13
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - gordonbennet

Take this simple fix as you would the immortal phrase, 'aircon needs a regas', no it doesn't its going to be a nasty job that might end up costing more than the vehicle cost you to buy.

Must be a perma fault or the dodgy geezer would turn the MiL lamp off via a pocket sized diagnostics tool.

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 16:43
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Olga Danes-Volkov

Thank you so much for this. I probably should have said that this is a 2006 and it's up for £1000. This is from a local well-known trader who trades almost exclusively in expensive cars, this is just a part-x. He said he was too lazy to do the sensor but he would if I wanted but it would cost more. It is everything I want in a car so do I just get him to do it???? Sorry to be such a pain in the a***.

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 16:48
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Wackyracer

I can only echo the advice of GB and the others who know the truth, if it was an easy fix the trader would have done it.

The 'only needs a lambda sensor' is a classic sign of he has already tried to fix it and the lambda sensor he fitted has not fixed it. A fault code for Lambda sensor does not mean the sensor is at fault most times. It means something else that is hard to find needs fixing and is causing the fuel mixture to be wrong.

Best advice - run for the hills. There are plenty of Ford Focii for sale, find one that is in good working order.

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Mon 12 Sep 2016 16:54
Ford Focus 1.6 - Ford Focus Lamda sensor - a m**** writes... - Olga Danes-Volkov

Thank you lovely, sensible people.

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