ben_bauer1

Kangoo Exhaust Treatment Malfunction

My 2006 Renault Kangoo with a gasoline engine has the check engine light on and is running rough. There's also a strong exhaust smell. My scanner says there's an exhaust treatment malfunction. Is it the catalytic converter or something with the exhaust pipe?

4 comment(s)

I had a similar issue with my Kangoo. Rough running and a strong exhaust smell sounds familiar! Have you checked the lambda sensor? That was the culprit for me. Lambda sensors monitor the amount of oxygen in your exhaust gases and feedback to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to adjust the fuel injection quantity and maintain an optimal fuel-air ratio. If they fail, the engine can run rough.

Lambda sensor, huh? Where exactly is it located? And is there any way I can test it before shelling out for a new one? I'm trying to avoid a huge bill if possible!

It's usually somewhere along the exhaust pipe, often before or after the catalytic converter, and hopefully easy to reach. Honestly, testing it is a pain. The best way to check if the sensors are faulty is with a multimeter. However, unless you know exactly what you are doing, I wouldn't recommend diving in. I suggest taking it to a workshop; they'll diagnose it properly and save you a headache. My issue ended up costing 375€, but that was for parts and labor.

Okay, thanks for the advice. I'm going to take it to the shop because I trust their judgement far more than my own. Turns out you were right, it was in fact the lambda sensor! New sensor fitted and the Kangoo is running smoothly again. Cheers!

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