Bloody engine management lights
- Thread starter User
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
spen666
Legendary Member
[QUOTE 1462370"]
Riduculous things. The systems these days are so sensitive that there are countless cars driving round with the things permanently on, but with nothing wrong with the car. What happens if a real problem then develops? How would you know?
[/quote]
wtihout the lights, how would you know?
Well surely its the same for cars with those lights
Riduculous things. The systems these days are so sensitive that there are countless cars driving round with the things permanently on, but with nothing wrong with the car. What happens if a real problem then develops? How would you know?
[/quote]
wtihout the lights, how would you know?
Well surely its the same for cars with those lights
Rhythm Thief
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ross on Wye
Old cars are the way to go ... my 1966 Citroen Ami (my everyday transport when it's not on the drive awaiting MOT work) had a grand total of, er, no dashboard lights at all, until I fitted an oil pressure warning light a few months ago.
snapper_37
Barbara Woodhouse's Love Child
- Location
- Wolves
[QUOTE 1462372"]
They're there to pop up when you've got a problem. If it lights up and you take it to the garage to be told that the car is fine and it's just an oversensitive (eg) sensor and safe to drive, you're then driving around in a car with the light permanently on. So you have no idea if another problem arises.
[/quote]
Yep, very annoying. My car went in for a service Monday (was due and the service and change oil instruction has been there for yonks). Had the work done to be told there is a sensor 'somewhere' that is keeping the service light on. Trying to find the problem is needle in haystack territory. They've had the car 3 days and no luck so we're giving up since it has no bearing on the running of the car.
They're there to pop up when you've got a problem. If it lights up and you take it to the garage to be told that the car is fine and it's just an oversensitive (eg) sensor and safe to drive, you're then driving around in a car with the light permanently on. So you have no idea if another problem arises.
[/quote]
Yep, very annoying. My car went in for a service Monday (was due and the service and change oil instruction has been there for yonks). Had the work done to be told there is a sensor 'somewhere' that is keeping the service light on. Trying to find the problem is needle in haystack territory. They've had the car 3 days and no luck so we're giving up since it has no bearing on the running of the car.
endoman
Senior Member
- Location
- Chesterfield
Black electrical tape is the answer,
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
spen666
Legendary Member
If Apple made cars, then it probably would
[QUOTE 1462381"]
Cool. Do you need software?
[/quote]
Some come wih the software. Depends on what your car is and what you need to buy. First find if you have an ODB port in the car, which should be near the steering wheel and looks a bit like a SCART socket. You might also need to do a bit of research to make sure it's ODB2 compliant. Most cars are these days.
Cool. Do you need software?
[/quote]
Some come wih the software. Depends on what your car is and what you need to buy. First find if you have an ODB port in the car, which should be near the steering wheel and looks a bit like a SCART socket. You might also need to do a bit of research to make sure it's ODB2 compliant. Most cars are these days.
endoman
Senior Member
- Location
- Chesterfield
very interesting, I presume you can get some version of the vagcom software from the net?
You can. You need to do some research on your car. Car forums are the place to start. Once you know what you are looking for it's relatively easy to find someone who's already done it and posted what you need online.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Or, rather than an OBD or OBD II reader, go get the electronic service manual via the owners club or on the web.
It's saved me a fortune !
My Primera is loaded with gadgets and all the controls are from one screen, but it's biggest issue is it's not used much, or just short journies now. It's often low on fuel, so having it low, picks up crap from the petrol tank (the car is 9 years old now) and causes an occasional shudder. This then fires up the engine management light. The cure is to disconnect the battery over night (needs to be about 12 hours - 3 or 4 doesn't work), this clears the ECU memory and no faults are then picked up. Sorted.
If it came on again, then you do have a fault.
Mine just does this because it's low on fuel. I also run some fuel system cleaner through - drop some in the petrol tank on fill up. This then ensures it runs well for some time - or until I let it run too low.
Last week I had an airbag warning come on. Wouldn't go off. Quickly searched on line and there was a method, without using a computer, to tell the system to run a system check. A few on/offs with the ignition at the right time, and the system cycled through, but started to flash. A fiddle with the wires under the driver's seat, and next to the side air bag - bingo, up flashed the warning again (kids had kicked a wire loose). Re-ran the on/off ignition cycle, and the system came up clear.
So get an electronic servcie manual - at least you'll know what the error is before some garage spends weeks changing out sensors.
It's saved me a fortune !
My Primera is loaded with gadgets and all the controls are from one screen, but it's biggest issue is it's not used much, or just short journies now. It's often low on fuel, so having it low, picks up crap from the petrol tank (the car is 9 years old now) and causes an occasional shudder. This then fires up the engine management light. The cure is to disconnect the battery over night (needs to be about 12 hours - 3 or 4 doesn't work), this clears the ECU memory and no faults are then picked up. Sorted.
If it came on again, then you do have a fault.
Mine just does this because it's low on fuel. I also run some fuel system cleaner through - drop some in the petrol tank on fill up. This then ensures it runs well for some time - or until I let it run too low.
Last week I had an airbag warning come on. Wouldn't go off. Quickly searched on line and there was a method, without using a computer, to tell the system to run a system check. A few on/offs with the ignition at the right time, and the system cycled through, but started to flash. A fiddle with the wires under the driver's seat, and next to the side air bag - bingo, up flashed the warning again (kids had kicked a wire loose). Re-ran the on/off ignition cycle, and the system came up clear.
So get an electronic servcie manual - at least you'll know what the error is before some garage spends weeks changing out sensors.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
My car, in the spirit of RT's Ami, has no temp gauge. Odd on a water/oil cooled car. It has instead what we owners call the 'Oh shoot' light. Cos that is what you say when it comes on.
Our SAAB 93 has all manner of extra lights that come on and dire warnings spelt out on the LCD display. I find if you just park it up and leave it alone for a few days they go away. Then again our old 9000 seemed to possessed by a demon that lived in the electrics and ignoring it just made it worse.
Our SAAB 93 has all manner of extra lights that come on and dire warnings spelt out on the LCD display. I find if you just park it up and leave it alone for a few days they go away. Then again our old 9000 seemed to possessed by a demon that lived in the electrics and ignoring it just made it worse.
Fnaar
Smutmaster General
- Location
- Thumberland
[QUOTE 1462370"]
Riduculous things. The systems these days are so sensitive that there are countless cars driving round with the things permanently on, but with nothing wrong with the car. What happens if a real problem then develops? How would you know?
[/quote]
I used to have a Fiat. One day the engine warning light came on. I took it to a local mechanic who said that although he never usually advocated going to a main dealer for work, I ought to get it put on Fiat's diagnostic machine. I did. This cost £80. Fiat said "we don't know why it's on... no actual fault can be found. For £200 we can do some further investigations". I said "Can I just drive it with the light on... do you think there's anything seriously wrong with it?" They said "we have to advise that you don't drive it, but it's up to you". I drove it for 2 more years with the warning light on. It had the odd other electrical problem, but nothing connected with the warning light.
Riduculous things. The systems these days are so sensitive that there are countless cars driving round with the things permanently on, but with nothing wrong with the car. What happens if a real problem then develops? How would you know?
[/quote]
I used to have a Fiat. One day the engine warning light came on. I took it to a local mechanic who said that although he never usually advocated going to a main dealer for work, I ought to get it put on Fiat's diagnostic machine. I did. This cost £80. Fiat said "we don't know why it's on... no actual fault can be found. For £200 we can do some further investigations". I said "Can I just drive it with the light on... do you think there's anything seriously wrong with it?" They said "we have to advise that you don't drive it, but it's up to you". I drove it for 2 more years with the warning light on. It had the odd other electrical problem, but nothing connected with the warning light.
