Car engine management light…..

[Dancinginthemoonlight11]

Just looking for some reassurance that my car isn’t going to blow up really….

It is under Cazoo warranty and I’m awaiting a call tomorrow to book it in for a diagnostic, so in the meantime I thought I’d ask for some advice on here!

Has anyone had their engine light come on (amber) and for it to be a quick fix?? The car is 2019 with 38k miles on it, it randomly came on yesterday whilst we were on a long drive. It seems to be driving fine and no funny noises, it’s pulling away fine etc.

We haven’t had it long at all and anxiety is through the roof! My due date is a month away and just want the dreaded amber light to go away!!

So with the engine light is it when it’s flashing or red it’s the major cause for concern??

When it comes on it should be sorted ASAP. It isn’t always expensive to fix, but ignoring it could cost you a lot more.

Anybody suggesting driving a car with an EML on is giving very poor, potentially very dangerous advice

If the car suddenly goes into limp mode you'll find yourself traveling at 20mph so if you're on a motorway in the middle or right hand lane you're going to cause some serious problems

They'll be no warning, you'll just lose all power

The sensible thing to do is to get the car recovered to the nearest garage or dealership

I've seen people learn the hard way

Engine Management Light: 10 reasons why check engine warning light is on…

quarterbridgecars.co.uk/engine-management-light/

As above. If you keep driving it, you could find yourself in limp mode with your speed restricted and/or the gearbox locked in low gear.

It'll be fine by tomorrow OP. Don't fret. They'll suggest you go in for a diagnostic test. Easy.

It will be triggered by anything unusual sensors detect. For example you tend to drive locally, then you accelerate hard on a hill on a 60 road. Or a sooty bit passed through the engine.

If the unusual reading isn’t repeated after the next 3 engine warm ups (ie after you drive it 3 times) it’ll turn off.

If it ever flashes red then stop and call a breakdown service- it’s a fault that could cause damage if you continue.

my friend diesel has the light on if she does too many short journeys, but if she does a long drive it clears. The garage charged her £100 to fix it until we realised this workaround

What make of car is it?

@iklboo a Mercedes

Thank you everyone. We haven’t had it long and I’m not sure regarding the journeys before but yesterday was our first long journey with the car (a 160 mile round trip) and it came on half way through our way home so maybe it’s not used to the long drive, we hadn’t driven that long at that speed before either. Thanks everyone I think I’ll be able to sleep easier tonight 🙏

Mine has been on for over 6 years - I am telling the truth . The AA and all garages tell me that it is a tiny discrepancy in intake of some valve and to ignore unless it flashes. It had been so long I can’t even remember .

if it's a Mercedes diesel then it's probably the nox sensors - it's a common fault on their diesels and go after 3-5 years apparently. Mine is in the gge at the moment having them fixed. Problem is availability is really bad and you can only get them through main dealers. Can take up to six months to get sensors... took 6 weeks for mine.....

That must be a reasonably old car then otherwise it’d be an MOT fail

@unadulterateddad ahhh could very well be that couldn’t it. Are you able to drive it whilst awaiting the sensor? Did the light flash at any point?

I drove it for a year with no problems, mercedes said it wasn't an issue.

Light was intermittent at first then constant

I just thought the same 😱 I paid around £20 for one not too long ago!

24 years old . The garage plugs it in to the code reader . It then stays off until the engine has started 3 times with the reading and then do the mot before the third key turn .

On a 24 year old car the EML is not an MOT fail anyway.

@unadulterateddad you were right!! Nox sensor needs replacing….

@unadulterateddad could I ask how much you’ve paid to get yours replaced? Thanks

this is so helpful, mine came on the day after a motorway drive as well! took it to a mechanic (mine is a 12 yr old peugeout) who said he couldnt find anything and it could be the most minor thing setting it off.

he also said it could be due to not driving the car enough (only use it really to commute to work and live in london so can never give it a good 'run' as im always in traffic and can hardly go above 20) EVEN though i'd just done 4 hours driving at the weekend.

he said taking it back out on the motorway would be a good idea 😳so i'll be giving it a go over christmas 🙈

I've been quoted £600 by Mercedes, but I needed both sensors. Bit of a rock and a hard place as you can't get them done elsewhere.

Why on earth not? It’s not rocket science!