Check engine light help please!

[brian62c]

Afternoon all.

 

Check engine light has come on on daughter's 2016 59bhp Citigo. No apparent reason - car seems to be running as normal.

I've tried plugging in a memoscanner u281 OBD2 code reader but it just says linking error. Also tried it on other daughter's identical Citigo (no issues), with same result, so I'm thinking the scanner is rubbish.

Long shot I know but is there anyone local to me in North Pembrokeshire who has a half decent scanner and would be willing to plug it in for me? I would be happy to remunerate/barter/pay it forward or whatever in return. Otherwise I guess I'll have to try and find a specialist nearby (won't go to the local dealer).

I've checked the petrol filler cap (no worse than on the other car), air filter (pristine and seated correctly), battery (fully charged) and catalytic converter (clean). I would stick some performance petrol in it but it's three-quarters full of ordinary atm.

Any other ideas also welcome.

Cheers all.

[Ootohere]

How many miles has it done and when if ever were the spark plugs changed?

 

Filling the tank with E5 super unleaded now and the next time is worth the extra £2 or less over the E10.

It is not going to do any harm.  (Petrol prices going to be rising anyway over the weekend.)

[brian62c]

It's done about 45k. Don't know about the plugs.

 

I have considered siphoning out most of the E10 and putting some E5 in to see if it helps. Not sure if my old battery powered syphon gizmo is working though - and I'm not keen on the old-fashioned sucking on the hose method.

[Ootohere]

You do not suck the hose.

 

String fed through the hose, little bit of rag tied to the end of string. 

Pipe down the pipe or in the drum etc,  pull the string through and draw up the liquid. 

 

Doubt the E10 is the issue but if the car was sitting ticking over long enough maybe why the EML comes on.  

Edited 25 February, 2022 by roottoot

[brian62c]

That's a much better idea, thanks roottoot. It's clear to me now why I only got half a physics O level 🙄🤭

 

Does seem a bit unlikely to be just the fuel (the identical car has had no issues with the ordinary and we've had it longer) but I'd like to rule out as many cheap and/or simple possibilities as I can before splashing much cash.

[Ootohere]

If no record of spark plugs being replaced they are needing looked at anyway and if out they are as well to be replaced, or kept for an emergency and eventually thrown out years later when you no longer have that car.

(i have the t-shirts & the plugs...)

[brian62c]

From my experience, the same applies to so many things, which "could come in useful one day". I think in all my 60 years, it has actually happened about as many times as I can count on the fingers of one finger 😉

 

Forgive my lack of knowledge but if the car is running fine, as usual, wouldn't that suggest it's probably not a plugs issue? Not saying they shouldn't be done anyway, erring on the side of them being the originals.....