Throttle body sensor problem

Hello,

I have a 2000 W-reg K11. It's a 1 litre 16v, and doesn't have coils.

The other day it began jumping whilst driving, cutting out coming into traffic lights (but starts again immediately), and is running very rich, with a sooty tailpipe and a strong smell of exhaust fumes. It drives horribly and is essentially unusable.

I ran it to the garage I use, and they identified a sensor on the throttle body that has gone. It's the top sensor. The garage think the sensor cannot be replaced, and that the whole throttle body does. Is this correct? Does anybody have any advice? What is this sensor called please?

Kind regards.
 
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The cheapest & simple DIY test is to unplug the MAF sensor & test drive the vehicle.

If the driveability significantly improves then the MAF is at fault.

It will throw a CEL but be drivable & we used ours for 18 months & even passed an MOT with MAF unplugged

Also read the corresponding links at the bottom of each MSC page. ;)
 
Thanks Micra Paul.

I questioned the mechanic and he said "I can't leave it unplugged, because you won't have a throttle". But I'll try it this afternoon anyway, because he's the only person who has said this.

EDIT: I just unplugged the MAF and drove it down the road a bit, and the symptoms remain. In fact, at one point, they worsened for a few seconds and there wasn't much power for a hundred yards or so. Still an very rich smell of exhaust fumes. So the car is unusable with or without the MAF plugged in.
 
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Quote: "Won't it be using more fuel than necessary though"?

Ans: Possibly?

Quote: "It drives horribly and is essentially unusable"

As you say that the vehicle is unusable ask the garage for a firm fixed written price to sort it?

In the meantime Maf (only one multi plug on the TB) unplugged it will be drivable.

Go for it. :)
 
Back to basics review of all the symptoms & issues

Inspect, test, assess

Quote: “cutting out coming into traffic lights (but starts again immediately), and is running very rich, with a sooty tailpipe and a strong smell”

Perhaps its not getting hot enough or the eng temp sensor is in error & its running with a cold enriched mix?
 
Perhaps. I'll have to pick up an OBD reader next week and see what that says. There's no yellow light on the dash, so I'm assuming (perhaps naively?) that there'd therefore be no codes?
 
Re reading your symptoms,

Quote: “it began jumping whilst driving, cutting out coming into traffic lights (but starts again immediately), and is running very rich, with a sooty tailpipe and a strong smell of exhaust fumes”.

Our micra began misfiring, erratic unstable engine throttle control & jumping kangaroo un driveable with no yellow CEL & no fault codes.

Unplugging the Maf calmed it down rendering it usable.

Are you sure you unplugged the correct multiplug, the upper of the two on the drivers side of the TB. The grey plug, & not the red one?
 
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Yes, it was definitely the right plug. It didn't calm mine down to make it usable, unfortunately, but it changed the symptoms slightly.

Less kangaroo-ey, and didn't cut out when coming to a stop, but seemingly very limited in revs a few times, but had full revs at others. Also, still had very strong exhaust fumes. When plugged in, I had full throttle at all times.
 
I have 2 pre facelifts (non coil packs), both a few years ago started doing the symptoms you describe. I had juddering, black smoke sooty tailpipe. I re soldered the throttle body board (on pre face lifts they non removeable), this made an improvement short term, but then the problem came back.

I purchased a new aftermarket throttle body, granted it wasn't a Bosch, but fitted it and all the problems went. I then purchased another one for the other pre facelift, so far both been on 2 years and running fine.
 
I have 2 pre facelifts (non coil packs), both a few years ago started doing the symptoms you describe. I had juddering, black smoke sooty tailpipe. I re soldered the throttle body board (on pre face lifts they non removeable), this made an improvement short term, but then the problem came back.

I purchased a new aftermarket throttle body, granted it wasn't a Bosch, but fitted it and all the problems went. I then purchased another one for the other pre facelift, so far both been on 2 years and running fine.
That's exactly what I did - a brand new throttle body off ebay, non genuine part. Two months on and it's all good. I'm very impressed actually.

Bloody water pump went straight after!!! A combined 11 years ownership of 2 K11s with only servicing and the occasional sticky caliper in that time, and then I had these two major problems in one month!
 
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