Each car has a huge variety of sensors that help to correctly assess the current situation, and also allow you to learn about breakdowns and malfunctions. The only problem is that any sensor always remains a mechanism. And this, in turn, means that it, like any other mechanism, can easily break down. Moreover, many sensors have a bad habit of junk. Some people do this more often than they would like.
1. Engine temperature sensor
The hottest part of the engine is the cylinder head. However, the temperature sensor is most often installed in a nozzle attached to the head. The sensor directly in the head is a rare exception. Therefore, in fact, this device does not show the temperature of the power plant, but the temperature of the coolant. The problem is aggravated, as a rule, by the fact that on many car models the pipe is made of plastic.
2. Speed sensor
It is a rare case when incorrect data from the sensor is "not a bug, but a feature." The fact is that the speedometers of the vast majority of consumer car models are adjusted in such a way as to show the speed higher than the actual one. This is done for road safety purposes. Thus, the car always drives less than the driver thinks when looking at the gauge panel.
3. Oxygen sensor
As soon as an uneven distribution of air or fuel occurs in the cylinders, this sensor immediately begins to lie. The problem is that it is almost impossible to achieve an absolutely even distribution of gas and fuel, since it depends on too many factors. Ideally, each cylinder should have its own lambda probe. However, no manufacturer will do this for reasons of rationality.
4. Oil pressure sensor
Today, problems with this indicator are gradually becoming a thing of the past thanks to "smart" technologies. However, on older cars, this indicator does not work at all the way the crankshaft bearings would like. As a result, in most situations, the sensor is not able to warn about a pressure increase even up to 0.6 bar.
5. Knock sensor
The device functions, but not nearly as well as we would like. The problem is that due to the different distance of the cylinders, the sensor "hears" the cylinders very differently. As a result, there are natural inaccuracies and even errors in the readings. The situation is much better with V-shaped power plants. They are usually equipped with 2 sensors, one for each row.
6. Outboard temperature sensor
Most often, these sensors are installed in the bumper area. In theory, everything is smooth, but in practice, such sensors are heated not only from the engine compartment (running engine), but also from the road in the summer. Even if this unit is not the most important in the car, but in reality there is almost no sense from it.
7. Interior temperature sensor
If the car is budgetary and there is only one sensor in it, then it will most likely not work too correctly. Moreover, if there are several temperature sensors in the cabin, then the readings will be quite accurate. In premium car models, climate control uses up to 5 devices of this category.
8. Crankshaft position sensor
A sensor that starts lying as the vehicle wears out. The root of the problem lies in the fact that iron-containing chips are gradually glued to the device, which leads to distortion of the readings due to the attenuation of the signal. As a result, all this leads, among other things, to a decrease in the efficiency of the engine.
9. Camshaft position sensor
Another automotive sensor, the work of which is severely disrupted as the vehicle's structural elements wear out. Most often, the readings from the device begin to distort if the chain is stretched too much. In addition, distortion occurs with poorly functioning phase shifters.
10. Mass air flow sensor
This sensor also malfunctions over time. The main enemy of the DMRV is, oddly enough, banal dust. The problem may appear ahead of time if the filter was installed incorrectly.
11. Throttle position sensor
DPDZ serves the angle of rotation of the throttle valve and at the same time is a variable resistor. The problem is that the damper tracks inevitably wear out during vehicle operation. Along with this, the sensor also begins to lie.
12. Pressure and temperature sensor in the intake manifold
The device starts giving incorrect information as soon as problems with the tightness of the outlet pipeline appear. For example, which result from dust fouling in the exhaust tract.
Continuing the topic, read about how to recognize a "drowned man" in a used car and not buy a "diver".