Engine warning light on......how serious ?

[figbat]

.That's not to say you should take a cavalier attitude...but it might be something minor that passes...

You said it was a Vectra! 😉

My Citigo threw a general EML a while back. It kept driving but ‘hunted’ a bit on a slow-speed constant throttle. I bought a code reader and diagnosed the post cat O2 sensor. The local garage fixed it right up (on the 3rd time of asking - the first two times they used a generic sensor, which threw the error again soon after leaving. A genuine V.AG sensor sorted it out).

 

[Fastpedaller]

I noticed today in Lidl they have Redex for injector and cat 'cleaning' for diesel or petrol engines - 2 bottles for 4.99, which seems a bargain. Two choices, either petrol or diesel.

 

[biggs682]

I noticed today in Lidl they have Redex for injector and cat 'cleaning' for diesel or petrol engines - 2 bottles for 4.99, which seems a bargain. Two choices, either petrol or diesel.

Good for chain lubricant as well

 

[Drago]

Mine charges £30 per hour and it's no back street one either, he's not greedy.

Christ, I wouldn't leave the house for 30 sheets an hour. How he pays the rent, bills, overheads, tax, and has anything left over to pay himself at those rates is mjnd boggling.

 

[Webbo2]

We were going to friends birthday do in Derbyshire travelling from East Yorkshire and the warning light came in in my car when I was coming home from work with a message saying take it the garage immediately. We then realised Mrs W mot had run out on her car.
So we went in mine with the view that we did have recovery cover. It got there and back and the 30 miles to garage with no problem.

 

[geocycle]

Warning lights can be a right pain and expensive to sort because of the need for diagnostics. We had two ABS warnings that turned out to be the sensor and nothing to do with the brakes, we also had a child lock malfunction message which was also false but expensive to fix a lock. That’s probably the downside of running a 9 year old car.

 

[richardfm]

Warning lights can be a right pain and expensive to sort because of the need for diagnostics. We had two ABS warnings that turned out to be the sensor and nothing to do with the brakes, we also had a child lock malfunction message which was also false but expensive to fix a lock. That’s probably the downside of running a 9 year old car.

Which sensor was it?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I had a disco of warning lights in Italy. Drove the 900 or so miles home without issue

 

[figbat]

Which sensor was it?

I’d guess wheel sensor - they are pretty common failures and relatively easy to replace.

 

[DRM]

Vauxhall Astra I had did that, engine light on, all because both brake lights failed!

 

[richardfm]

I’d guess wheel sensor - they are pretty common failures and relatively easy to replace.

But the OP said it had nothing to do with the brakes. I wanted to know how an ABS warning could have nothing to do with the brakes. A wheel sensor going faulty would cause an ABS warning and is to do with the brakes.

 

[Drago]

Vauxhall Astra I had did that, engine light on, all because both brake lights failed!

Indeed. Many CANBUS and LINBUS cars have electrical systems that are fry sensitive to major faults such as this and can cause the vehicle tk behave abnormally. A slightly tired battery can also bring up various wally lights.

 

[figbat]

But the OP said it had nothing to do with the brakes. I wanted to know how an ABS warning could have nothing to do with the brakes. A wheel sensor going faulty would cause an ABS warning and is to do with the brakes.

Well, it is to do with the brake control system, but not to do with the actual brakes (hydraulics, calipers, pistons, pads etc).

 

[Dave7]

But the OP said it had nothing to do with the brakes. I wanted to know how an ABS warning could have nothing to do with the brakes. A wheel sensor going faulty would cause an ABS warning and is to do with the brakes.

I don't recall saying it had nothing to do with the brakes...... I said it drives smoothly and with no shuddering etc.
I no nothing about mechanics so have had to put it in the garage.
I should know the problem tomorrow, I am very much in thier hands.

 

[richardfm]

I don't recall saying it had nothing to do with the brakes...... I said it drives smoothly and with no shuddering etc.
I no nothing about mechanics so have had to put it in the garage.
I should know the problem tomorrow, I am very much in thier hands.

I meant the poster of the post I was replying to, who said they had an ABS warning light but it was nothing to do with the brakes.