Fiat Barchetta 2002 Experiencing Excessive Fuel Consumption, Engine Issues and Smoke Emissions: Potential Lambda Sensor Heater Malfunction

Hey, you're on the right track suspecting the Lambda sensor. I had a fundamentally similar problem with my 2005 Fiat Panda. It didn't want to behave at all and had all the ruckus - the sputtering, ridiculous fuel consumption, erratic engine revving, all that jazz. Turned out it was the Lambda O2 sensor heater. Now, this wasn't accounting for all the problems, but it was causing the most havoc. The failing heater messes up the sensor performance, and it starts sending wrong signals – hence, all the strange things happening. It also threw my emissions all out of whack, which I only discovered during an inspection. The mechanic did a diagnostic, found the fault codes and eventually, we had to replace the whole sensor along with the heater. It was not a quick fix and needed some professional attention, but once done, trust me, it's like getting your car back from the abyss. As far as severity goes, I'd say it's pretty serious. Not something you should ignore or delay because it can cause your engine to run rich or lean which is bad news in the long run. Just schedule a visit to your mechanic and have it looked over. It's better to catch and sort it out before it spirals into more costly repairs, and your ride loses all its vim and vigor. Hope this helps. Good luck with it. Cheers!

Hey, there that sounds exactly like what my poor Barchetta is going through. Going off your experience, sounds like I should get her to a mechanic sooner than later. Thanks for sharing, it's really helped to clear things up. Quick question, can you remember what the damage was to your wallet after the Lambda sensor and heater replacement? And have you encountered any other issues ever since sorting this one out? Cheers.

Hey, oh yeah, I remember that hit to the wallet quite well, trust me. Once I dropped my Fiat Panda off at the mechanic and had the Lambda sensor heater sorted, it set me back 375€. Not exactly pocket change, but considering the difference it made to my car's performance, it was worth every cent. Since getting that fixed, I haven't had any major issues, really. The ol' Panda is chugging along just fine, no more smoke performances or unexpected gulps of fuel. Cleaning up the lambda sensor heater defect did a world of good, I tell ya. So don't dawdle too much. Have your Barchetta checked out as soon as you can. Sorting this out sooner rather than later can save you from further headaches down the line. Good luck, and hope your Barchetta gets back to its usual self real quick. Cheers!

Hey, wow, 375€ isn't spare change, but it sounds like it's worth taking that hit to get the beast running smoothly again. I'm relieved to know it shouldn't be causing any more trouble once it's fixed. Thanks a bunch for all your help. You've set my mind at ease. I'll book in with my mechanic pronto and get this sorted. Hopefully, my Barchetta will be raring to go like your Panda in no time. Really appreciate your insights. Cheers!