Car has been running perfectly and still is BUT today the Exhaust Control Warning Light came on. I am not sure what this control actually controls or if the car is safe to drive without causing damage. Help appreciated folks.

The engine ECU has calculated that your exhaust emissions are out of specification (from information it gets from the oxygen sensors, I think). 

 

Several possible causes.

 

Ideally you should read the fault code(s) from its stored location in the ECU's memory, which should give clues about the fault(s) giving rise to this situation. There are various ways of doing this yourself, or with help from a suitably equipped local member, or more expensively via a garage.

 

What year is the car, and what mileage?

Further to my original query, I had the ECU read and the code that came up was PURGE VALVE. OK, so what is the purge valve, where is it and what does it do ? No mention of it in Haynes. Car still running perfectly but warning light still on as before. Any help gratefully received .

[car is 03 vintage with 93K on.]

Edited 6 June, 201511 yr by NorsemanBernicia

The purge valve (known as the N80 valve)  is in the engine compartment near the coolant header tank. It controls the venting of the fuel tank vapours.

 

This is what it looks like...

 

 

 

The evap purge valve is a simple solenoid valve, when it goes open or short circuit the ECU detects this and flags the fault, check the resistance of the solenoid to determine if it's failed, if not it's a wiring fault.

I have researched further on the topic and am ashamed that I did not do this before seeking advice. But thank you those who replied. This forum is worth it's weight in errr Skodas !

 

Just a word of praise for my little Fabia. 3000rpm = 75mph. It is surprisingly nippy, almost as quick [up to a point] as the Series 3 Beemer that I traded. The thing that I most like is the 1.4 MPI OHV lump - good, basic engineering. Takes me back to stripping engines with 3 spanners [ Dolomite, Zephyr, etc ]

Just a word of praise for my little Fabia. 3000rpm = 75mph. It is surprisingly nippy, almost as quick [up to a point] as the Series 3 Beemer that I traded. The thing that I most like is the 1.4 MPI OHV lump - good, basic engineering. Takes me back to stripping engines with 3 spanners [ Dolomite, Zephyr, etc ]

 

Mine's very good on the motorway. When I first got it I thought it was shockingly slow but I have got used to it now. It's actually OK if you know how to keep it on the boil.