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sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:45 am
by briain
My old exhaust had rusted through so I bought myself a fletcher stainless steel one(http://www.minisport.com/mini-spare-par ... -2S1S.html). The new exhaust doesnt have a boss to fit a sensor which is directly after the cat so do I need to get a boss made so I can fit the sensor also I couldn't find any replacement sensors on minispares as the old one is stuck in the exhaust

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:44 am
by purplehaze
As far as I know dude, if your car is run by an ECU you will need that sensor because if you don't, then the car will not run right.
Sensors are there for a reason. That one measures whats going out. If it's not right then it won't run right.
That's all I know mate. Hopefully I'm right, but I'm 99% sure you need the sensor :)
Hope that helps.
P.s motor factors will be able to get an exhaust sensor in for you. Hope this helps.

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:10 am
by woody
Something about this senso came up before if you can find it. Is it a Jap car?
More than likly you will need it for the ECU.

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:57 pm
by briain
yeah its a jap car just couldn't find the sensor on any of the mini sites

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:35 pm
by mgb1978
This is probably a Lambda sensor. There are 2 fitted to your car, one before the Cat and ond one after.
The 2nd one is there to measure what comes out of the Cat (the 1st one measures what goes in) and makes sure that the Cat is doing it's job (and adjusts the fuel/air mixture accordingly).
You can pick up a Lambda in most motor factors, they are fairly universal and either have 3 or 4 wires connecting them.
If you get hold of one you can just connect it up and secure it anywhere.....because it's the 2nd sensor all it is really looking for are cleaner emissions than measured by the 1st sensor. This may not pass the NCT but the car will run fine until you get a chance to have a nut welded to your new exhaust.
If you do decide to run the car this way for a while just be aware that the Sensors do heat up quite a bit so secure it somewhere with some wire wrapped around it, not a cable tie......

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:39 pm
by ian o B
http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/in ... page&id=76

dustyM gave me this link when i had the same problem :) you should find the sensor your after here.

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:20 pm
by briain
thanks for that although its very pricey £143. http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/in ... ts_id=5479. Although I could be looking at the wrong one

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:25 pm
by ian o B
:shock: that is pricey,, seems to be the one tho,

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:06 pm
by DustyM
Whoa Briain!!!!
Thats the part all right but you DONT need it. It is a simple temperature probe that is only on Jap spec minis. It is there to warn the driver if the cat is not working. It is connected to a little orange box with a buzzer in it (located behind the dash to the left of the gauge cluster). The sensor is only there to comply with Japanese regs so I wouldn't worry about it; particularly at that price!!!!!. You can send the money my way if you want........ :lol:

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:13 am
by briain
Cool good to know kind of thought it isn't necessary as the european spec minis don't have it and pass emmisson regs

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:32 pm
by woody
Found a wiring diagram with this on it . Its an overheat switch which just operates a warning buzzer on the dash, not connected to ecu at all. Deffo not needed .

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:08 pm
by briain
Still needs to be plugged in though cause the buzzer go's if its disconnected so I now have lambdas sensor behind the dash just in case

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 12:26 am
by woody
I now have lambdas sensor behind the dash just in case


I dont understand ,

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 2:47 am
by briain
the connection for the second lambda runs all the way back to behind the dash. so when I disconnected it the buzzer was going off the easier solution was to leave it connected but the sensor is tucked behind the dash. make sense?

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:10 am
by keith
briain wrote:the connection for the second lambda runs all the way back to behind the dash. so when I disconnected it the buzzer was going off the easier solution was to leave it connected but the sensor is tucked behind the dash. make sense?
lol... yup, like a super weird smoke alarm or something... seriosly though, as was posted, this is for japanese regulations: you could also remove the buzzer or the power to it.

Re: sensor after the catalytic convertor is it necessary

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 12:28 pm
by briain
Thought about it but the buzzer also go's off if the first lambda is disconnected so I think it has some job there aswell