Hi!

 

Driving around town today and the engine light kept going on- it was off when I left home, came on after the car had been parked for a bit (about half an hour) then went off. Parked up again for a bit longer and it was back on. No other light is on. 

 

It's a new car to me so I don't know it very well. It feels fine to drive (apart from being a bit sluggish to pull away). Any ideas? I'm gonna get it booked in with the garage on Mon.

 

Thank you!

We're going to need to know which engine you have in your car if you want us to help you.

Yes, that would help, wouldn't it? -smacks self-

 

It's the 1.4 16v petrol.  

In that case I guess that the EGR valve is playing up.

Thank you for that. Do you have any more info?

I'll wait until you have an actual fault code from the garage before making any more guesses.

It's booked in for next Thur. Am I okay to keep driving it? (Short, low speed trips.)

I'd reckon that not too much permanent damage will not occur over a short period. If the light tends to come on maybe 5 minutes or so into a journey, a wild guess based on my experience would be the S1 lambda probe as they only get "looked at" after the engine has warmed up a bit. You have not said that a noticeable reduction in engine performance occurs as soon as this light is on, if you have the BBY engine, the EGR issue could just be a choked pipe port on the throttle body or its adaptor/interface plate if one is fitted - that would give an insufficient flow warning. Really, as said all guess work until stored codes are read, but if the light does sometimes go out, then the faults are not permanent - yet.

 

By the way, "short low speed journeys" might be what has helped this car log faults, not best use for a car designed to minimise emissions, swop for electric car or bike?!?

Edited 8 September, 201312 yr by rum4mo

It's going back to the dealer tomorrow. This happened: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1185951_10153246186350096_1744915403_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1237941_10153246188605096_1385873979_n.jpg

 

Engine light, EPC light and brake light warning? I'm hoping it's something simple and a quick fix! 

 

Swapping it for a bike or electric car isn't going to happen. I need the load space because my Mum is disabled and has a scooter. (And most electric cars are out of my price range any way.) Once I get back to work, it'll be doing longer motorway trips. 

Yes electric cars might be brilliant - but at what cost!! 

 

Just word of warning, some of these lights, maybe or maybe not all, could get switched on by a faulty brake light switch or bulb fitting, so I'm just warning you in case you end up driving with no brake lights working.

Thank you! 

 

I was actually worried about the brake lights going out. Luckily my sister is following me in her car tomorrow, so at least she'll have some warning. 

 

The brake light warning only came on after I'd been reversing and stopped. (Twice, actually.) It hasn't been on when I've been going forward. (Yet!)

 

Thinking about electric cars- I'm not sure one would be good for me. 95% of my driving is on motorways or duel carriageways. Not sure I'd fancy facing a long motorway trip in an electric car.