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

[Dave7]

Situation is......
Astra petrol auto.
Warning light is showing NOT FLASHING.
Garage can "look at it" tomorrow.
I am on my own (for one week) from the weekend and some days I struggle to walk so could do without losing it next week.
It seems to drive smoothly ie no noise or shuddering etc.
So.........
Could I chance putting it off for a week as I only drive short distances 3 times a week**
**maybe that is the problem ??

 

[fossyant]

Could be absolutely anything. If driving OK, usually not serious - often can be a fault discovered with emissions, and given your use this could be it. Might be a failed sensor. This is where ODB readers are really handy. Engine lights cover all sorts of issues, from serious to sensor faults.

 

[fossyant]

I'd get them to scan it and potentially clear the code. I'd recommend a fuel treatment and give it a good run. If it's a something else, they can order the part. They can tell you whether it's a 'don't drive' fault, or one that you are OK with for a week.

 

[Dave7]

I'd get them to scan it and potentially clear the code. I'd recommend a fuel treatment and give it a good run. If it's a something else, they can order the part. They can tell you whether it's a 'don't drive' fault, or one that you are OK with for a week.

Thanks for that.
By BAD coincidence.....this week......

Grandsons mini cost the bank of Grandad 600 quid.
Daughters Corsa went in yesterday (steering wheel shuddering)
And now mine
Good job it's only money !

 

[fossyant]

We've had a run with son's cars and our Aygo. Decided to scrap the Aygo after the expensive cat fell to bits after shelling out for one 4 years ago, and needing two hew headlights. Spend was going to be £1000 and we were going to sell it anyway. Son's BMW was off the road as he replaced shocks/brakes etc but it took him 6 weeks due to working night shift, so we've been ferrying him to work. Finally got it MOT'ed this week after all the work was done.

 

[sevenfourate]

Orange light usually ok to drive with - as a blanket rule.

Red light= might need to consider potential "damage"..........

 

[vickster]

Orange light usually ok to drive with - as a blanket rule.

Red light= might need to consider potential "damage"..........

Indeed, the only one ythat made me nervous on the Fabia VRS was the oil light (it was thirsty beast)

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

My Dad was disabled and he his thoughts would have been along the lines of
"What if it just stops in the middle of nowhere - I couldn;t walk to get help"

Of course we have mobiles these days which is a huge thing if you can;t walk too far
or if you have kids in the car and all that

but I would get it to a garage as soon as possible

In fact this sort of thing is one of the reaosns I try to find a trustworthy locla garage
I reckon that if they have a record of you going there then you get better treatment in a emergency


(place in Bethesda was great - small backstreet garage with very Welsh people and when I walked in Idris would often look up and yell to his brother "Oh God the English are here again!"
but they would always fit us in and I have reason to believe we got charged the local rate and not the "english rate")

 

[Dave7]

My Dad was disabled and he his thoughts would have been along the lines of
"What if it just stops in the middle of nowhere - I couldn;t walk to get help"

Of course we have mobiles these days which is a huge thing if you can;t walk too far
or if you have kids in the car and all that

but I would get it to a garage as soon as possible

In fact this sort of thing is one of the reaosns I try to find a trustworthy locla garage
I reckon that if they have a record of you going there then you get better treatment in a emergency


(place in Bethesda was great - small backstreet garage with very Welsh people and when I walked in Idris would often look up and yell to his brother "Oh God the English are here again!"
but they would always fit us in and I have reason to believe we got charged the local rate and not the "english rate")

I can't go all the way to Bethesda!! How could I walk back from there?

Seriously though..... I just spoke to my 'pub lunch' friend and he is going to follow me later and bring me home.
I will keep you informed.

 

[Drago]

Provided everything else is good, such as coolant temp, oil pressure, etc, and the car drives well enough I wouldn't be too alarmed at this stage.

I would avoid motorways and the like until its been looked at.

As aforementioned, you really need the codes reading before worrying. It could be spurious and clearing the codes fixes it, or it could be deserving of attention, and you won't know until then. If you were nearer to me id scan it for you.

 

[Fastpedaller]

As 'reported' somewhere in these chronicles, this happened to my Daughter's car a couple of weeks ago. RAC called, 'diagnosed' one of the oxygen sensors and kindly followed her home. My OBD2 reader is at our house 100 miles away! I phoned around garages local to her, and one (which I'd driven past many times and thought 'had a good look about it' ) got the job of investigating. Over the 'phone they said about 130 for supply and fit a new sensor. They phoned me to say it showed in testing that the cat efficiency was poor, so it's likely the short journeys have clogged it with carbon. I agreed for them to add a treatment to the tank, and when she went to collect it, they couldn't print the invoice, so they would send it on. Total cost £86 inc VAT, which I considered was reasonable for the time/effort taken. My gut instinct about the garage was correct, and I'm pleased to have found someone I can trust local to her.

 

[fossyant]

Small garages will charge about £100 an hour including VAT. Stealerships getting nearer £180.

 

[numbnuts]

Small garages will charge about £100 an hour including VAT. Stealerships getting nearer £180.

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

 

[gbb]

Depends on the 'warning light'
Mine has a yellow triangle...maintenance due, washer fluid low, TPMS, that kind of thing..
A spanner icon, service due.
It also has an 'engine'icon , that's usually the one to be wary of, amber or red, red should be something more serious.

 

[gbb]

By the same token,.my old Vectra SRI regularly threw a warning on the dash, it often cleared itself. One occasion I got it read, throttle body position error...brought a new one, never solved the problem, sods law eh ? £350 for nowt.

I remarked on it to the MOTer I always use...yeah,.my wife had exactly the same car, hers often did the same, never did bother, it ran fine.
That's not to say you should take a cavalier attitude...but it might be something minor that passes...