Hi all, I have got an 02 plate 1.4 16v elegance and it has mostly been pretty reliable. She has 59k on the clock. Just recently a few gremlins have crept in and they seem to be multiplying. I can't help but winner if they are all related in some way. Firstly,the engine management light started intermittently coming on. Now it is pretty much always on. The car seems to run fine most of the time. Occasionally all if the dials have been known to drop whilst diving, fuel, odo, revs. This is very rare. Yesterday the engine missed a heartbeat whilst driving. A very pronounced jerk and the dials all dropped. It then all corrected and fine again. In the last month or so the central locking had a mind of its own, locking randomly by itself while driving our when the car has just been unlocked. Now the latest issue is that the blown bulb warning light keeps coming on whilst driving, but no blown or lose bulbs!! Argh. Doors anyone have any idea where I can start sorting this little mess out?? Is it a main dealer job? I'm guessing with all these problems I could be looking at a massive bill. Many thanks.

Apologies for grammatical issues, it seems my smartphone thinks it knows best...

I'd start with all your eath points mate. Make sure earth straps are all intact, and give all the points a good clean making sure they are free from oil and grease. Tighten them all down nice and tight. checking all internal and external points in the bay. I'd bet this would be a likely cause for all these different problems. Hope this helps bud.

Thanks mate, that sounds like a really positive place to start. Are all points under the bonnet?

Normaly an earth on the battery & one on the gearbox somewhere, somtimes one on the back of the engine also but not sure on your model.

Live on the battery and one going to the starter motor.