How much should I pay for fitting of a lambda sensor??

A

audi1driver

Member
Hi all, this is my first post so bare with me.. I have owned a 1.4se A2 for 5 months and it has covered 87k. Recently I have been getting the oil light and emlight stays on. So i took it to Audi for a service and diagnosis of eml, I was charged £150 for service and £130 for fault diagnosis. They said that the oil light might be the oil level sensor (wasn't happening on the day). The eml was the lambda sensor and this will cost £680 fitted(£230 for part and £430 for 3 hours labour).
My question is, how much is a lambda sensor fitted from a general garage or is it easy to fit for someone useful with a spanner? because Audis quote sounds extortionate.
Also how easy is oil level sensor to fit??
Many Thanks in advance
 
Hi audi1driver, welcome to the A2oc.
Not sure if this applies to all petrol models but ref the attached thread there may be 2 lambda sensors (also known as O2 sensors) in the system. - http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?11558-lambda-sensor&highlight=lambda+sensor
Do you have the fault codes from the diagnostc scan as these may help identify the specific sensor.

Not sure if the petrol engine is the same but on diesels the oil level sensor is bolted on the side of the sump where the oil fill and dipstick tubes enter. Replacement involves raising the car on axle stands, removal of the undertray and draining the oil before unbolting the sensor.

Cheers Spike
 
Hi audi1driver, as Spike says, there are two lambda probes on the 1.4 petrol. The pre-cat sensor, which is easily located from within the engine bay is about £120-£150. It is an extremely common part. A seasoned mechanic should be able to change it in 30mins, 3 hours, you can change both sensors and still have time for a cup of tea! The post-cat lambda takes cooler temperature and I'd assume similar price if not cheaper.

I'm not comfortable with the £130 diagnostic. At best, it was just plugging in the computer and run a scan, 30 minutes job with print out. I cannot imagine they took out the sensors and electrically measured them to certify they are faulty. Ask them, ask them how it was £130. If they said they took out and checked the sensors, then they have no case for a £430 3 hours labour quote to replace them. Ask them for a pint out of the diagnostic, it should say which lambda sensor is faulty. Also, try running down your tank of fuel and fill up with Shell V-Power. My car loves it and my lambda probe sometimes report a fault on cheap fuel (I know it is on the way out) but v-power seems to fix it for me.

As for the oil level sensor, if it is really faulty, you can live with it for the time being just keep toping up oil. Say 0.5L per 1000 miles until the next service. At service, the oil is drained and sensor can be replaced at the same time with minimal labour charge.
 
Guys, many many thanks for the feedback, this is what makes these sites great! I haven't got the sort of money that Audi want and even if I had, the car is of an age where it is not viable to spend what they want me to spend ( £280 already, £660 to clear eml, £500 quoted for replacement of a leaky water pump/ cambelt change, and who knows how much for the oil level sensor, thats about half what I paid for the car)
The service rep told me that it was the 'upstream' , i'm sure she said pre-cat sensor, however I will call them and find out for sure and see if I can get the diagnostic report as you said humps, I will ask if it was metered out. It's my wifes car and she uses it on the motorway with the little one so wanted the reassurance that it was being correctly maintained, thus taking it to Audi, but since receiving the verdict feels the repair can be done elsewhere.
I will also try the v-power petrol, but as for the oil level sensor... I've driven the car and its very irritating when these signs are flashing and beeping away, so I think we will try a new oil sensor, and refill the drained oil. Will keep you posted. Do you think that redex might help??
 
ok, I can understand the reluctant to pay up on a relative cheap purchase. On the other hand, you have to understand why used cars are cheaper, things wear out and needs maintenance ...etc. Lambda probes are common parts. The pre-cat probe is behind the exhaust manifold cover, can be removed with a large ring spanner. There is a thread here with photos, will have to search for it. As I said, 3hr labour is insane to replace just that part, they don't even need to lift the car up. Cambelt, waterpump can be done for around £400 if you go to indie, Audi standard price is £399 without waterpump which isn't bad. I'd strongly advise you to find a decent local VAG specialist independent garage.
 
Audi main dealers are full of sheeeeeeeeeeeeit :mad:


In my time i've found that only FORD have good customer service, reasonalbe prices and give the results they aim for most of the time. Audi have been a complete washout bad joke with regards to my dads A4 which he has had from new, Rover - lets just say there's a very good reason why Rover are dead and it has little to do with their cars.
 
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I can't say that I've had good experiences of Ford. In '98 or thereabouts I bought a Fiesta from a main dealer, the car was a lemon, service at both main dealers I tried was absolutely hopeless. I spent a lot of time using public transport while I owned that car. That was the last time I ever bought a car from a dealer, and the last time I bought a petrol car. It's been auctions + diesel ever since.
 
I can see your point humps, I called Audi today to find out what the eml code was..... and was told that they cant release technical info, so I asked for a copy of the diagnostic report and was told service would call me back, to which they never did. Cant see that they are going to release any more info as they will want the job of replacing the parts. I will source one after doing a bit of research! unless anyone out there has got a recommended supplier?
 
Hi Audi1driver

I see you live in Nottingham, I live in Leicester and use Lion garage who are Audi specialists, there is a branch in Loughborough which I guess isn't a million miles away from you.

They seem to know what they are talking about and are reasonable priced. I have had a full service from them for £200, a new anti-roll bar for £200, new brake light switch including diagnostic check and fitting £25.

This garage do not charge for the use of the diagnostic check, just the labout time to carry it out, they have told me my car is also showing a lambda sensor fault and have advised me it will cost approx £150 fitted.

Hope this is of some use to you.
Lucy :)
 
audi1driver said:
I can see your point humps, I called Audi today to find out what the eml code was..... and was told that they cant release technical info, so I asked for a copy of the diagnostic report and was told service would call me back, to which they never did. Cant see that they are going to release any more info as they will want the job of replacing the parts. I will source one after doing a bit of research! unless anyone out there has got a recommended supplier?
Click to expand...
You should say I paid a lot of money for that technical info if you get it repaired their or not you paid to find out what the problem was!
 
Thanks Lucy, Loughborough is about 15 miles away, and i'll bare that in mind, however my brother lives in bristol and has come to know an ex audi tech, and he advertises for work down there, so I thought I would take the car to him and have a night out down there. So I took my car and left it with him for the day and he sorted it all out, left used parts in bag in boot. For £550 he fitted genuine cambelt and tensioners, waterpump, good secondhand starter motor, oil level switch and lambda sensor, what a bargain, nice guy and he's still got his original audi jacket. Cars been running fine now for a couple of weeks now with no flashing lights, no starting noises either, just got to get some brighter headlight bulbs now, i'm sure these are the original ones (10 years old and very dull), thanks to everyone for their input on this.
 
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