Saab: Lambda Sond

Hello,

After continuing running problems with my LPG converted 1995 9000 CSi
(B204i) my LPG shop suggested to replace the lambda sond. It seems the
sond works just fine for a while after starting, but then sometimes
suddenly just collapses (giving a flat reading), resulting in bad
running and ECU light to come up. This happened for as long as I have
owned the vehicle, but only on LPG, never on petrol. So I naturally
blamed the LPG installation, but after having seen this thing
happening in the shop with a CO sniffer in the tailpipe and a
measuring device on the wiring from the sond, I slowly got convinced
the sond could indeed be the cause of my problem. (Does anyone
recognize this, a Lambda Sond that collapses sometimes??)

Now today the sond was replaced with a new one, but to my horror the
phenomenon that untill before only happened running on LPG, now also
happens when running on petrol. The car starts fine, runs well, but
after a minute or so the ECU light comes on. Now I'm wondering, the
guys at this LPG shop put in a generic Lamda Sond, not a SAAB specific
part. I assumed such a sond is always a generic part, like a spark
plug or so, which is not limited to a specific brand, and the one
purchased at the SAAB dealer is just the same part in a SAAB carton,
just making the dealer a better margin on spare-parts... Is that
correct?

Or is there a difference, and would replacing this one with a SAAB
Sond be worth my while??

I recently inquired, and the SAAB dealer quotend around 250EURO for a
replacement, the generic part was way cheaper....

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Nel

Hi,
 

youre probably right, that the "saab" probe is just more expensive,
generic probes come in 3,2 and 1 wire versions and they are supposed
to function the same way/be of the same quality.

your problem (lamba probe completely dropping dead) sounds more like
some kind of contact/wiring/earth problem tho, but since theyve replaced it,
the lambda probe is the wrong place to look... does your car have an
Air mass meter? I think Trionics dont ... correct me if im wrong.
DI is another thing that often goes wrong... but you would notice that while driving.

bye

simon