polo using lots of petrol. lambda sensor?????

[steve-the-polo]

i asked a while back now about my wifes polo using lots of petrol & got no replies back. she has a p reg 1996 1000cc cl polo thats using lots of petrol. been told it could be lambda sensor in the exhaust down pipe, told that if its gone faulty its very likely that the car will start to use more fuel, anybody out their that could confirm this for me before i spend money on this part. i do know that it only has has one on it and thats before the cat. dont know how many wires on it mind.....! help thanks people.

[gmoore6]

Not being a mechanic I can't say for sure, but I've had a lot of problems with lambda sensors on my Golf and had 3 new sensors fitted. First one failed after a couple of weeks, so got that replaced, then the second one broke down after a year and had that replaced too.

The garage said it wasn't the lambda sensor after the year and replaced the air mass meter which made no difference, and they eventually conceded it was the lambda sensor and replaced it under warranty.

Be careful that you get a good sensor though cos either I've been very unlucky or some manufacturer is making really bad parts for me to have had so many. Do your homework!!! I'd bet it was the lambda sensor in your case though, and I'm not a gambling man.

Good luck,

Gary