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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not tell dh about the 'check engine' light and ignore it as car is working fine?

185 replies

brt100 · 30/05/2014 19:20

The check engine light is now coming on a couple of times a week. We really can't afford to do anything to fix it and it is functional at the moment, it just Judders a bit when I go too slow in 5th.

Dh will get stressed and try to fix it himself. Would rather not have that as its not his forte.

OP posts:
AgaPanthers · 30/05/2014 19:22

what kind of car is it? Have you checked the oil? You can most likely google common faults for the car and find out what it is. Depending on how much the car is worth Y maybe BU not to fix it rather than have a blown engine and a worthless hulk of a car. If it is only worth £300 anyway, then Y probably ANBU

Igggi · 30/05/2014 19:24

Take it to a garage yourself and ask for advice - tell them not to carry any work out on it without your say-so! Might be nothing, but then again.. worth getting some help.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2014 19:24

Call the assistance for that brand and ask. When I worked for LR some faults were "meh" and some were, "STOP THE CAR AND CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE".

dawndonnaagain · 30/05/2014 19:24

Did you see what happened to Penny's car the other week! Wink

meditrina · 30/05/2014 19:26

You read my mind, dawndonnaagain !

OP: your name's Penny and I claim my £5.

Chippednailvarnish · 30/05/2014 19:27

We had a engine maintainence light come on a few weeks ago, two days later the car came to a halt and refused to budge.

£2k later and two weeks later it's now working again.

YABU to ignore it and yabvu to not even check to find out if it's something dangerous.

Original poster
brt100 · 30/05/2014 19:28

Thats a great idea, will a guarge charge me just to look at it?

What happened to penny's?

OP posts:
OftheTwilighttheDarkness · 30/05/2014 19:29

If you have a Fiat I would just ignore it.

Original poster
brt100 · 30/05/2014 19:30

It is a fiat!! Why ignore it? Best news I've had all day

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 30/05/2014 19:33

I wouldn't say the car "juddering" equates to "working fine"

Take risks if you like, but you may find it a false economy. An expensive false economy, in ways more than financial.

TeacupDrama · 30/05/2014 19:33

look in the manual to see which light it is, some lights on any car fiats included mean stop at once otherwise ruined engine and it will cost £££££££££££ this applies especially to overheating ( could blow cylinder head gasket) oil warning light no oil in engine----> engine ruined they cost £££; service light probably not so important

PrincessBabyCat · 30/05/2014 19:34

Yeah, it could just be something simple like check your oil because it's turning into a paste. Also, check your car battery, your fluids, all the basics. Don't ignore it and let a potentially inexpensive problem turn into a expensive problem because the engine died.

Sometimes mechanics will charge an inspection fee other times they only charge the repair fees.

Original poster
brt100 · 30/05/2014 19:37

Ive done all the basics.

Tbh I think the juddering was because I was going at a too low speed in 5th, its my first car so new to this all.

Please reply darkness!

OP posts:
TheWickerWoman · 30/05/2014 19:37

I had a judder problem and it turned out to be just my plugs and points needed cleaning. Only cost me pence.

TheWickerWoman · 30/05/2014 19:38

Although driving too slow in 5th will cause it to judder anyway.. Mine was happening in 2nd

OftheTwilighttheDarkness · 30/05/2014 19:42

My still ran for bloody months with the engine management light on. The airbag warning lights went on and off and the battery warning lights. It would probably still be running now if some numpty hadn't crashed into it. Fiat electrics are shocking.

OftheTwilighttheDarkness · 30/05/2014 19:42

Ahhrrg Stilo not still.

DocDaneeka · 30/05/2014 19:45

Get it checked by a garage. You can always choose to ignore when you know what the problem is.

Your dh won't be able to identify, let alone fix it without the correct lead to plug in and diagnostic software.

Original poster
brt100 · 30/05/2014 19:47

Thanks twylight, I will selectively only hear your advice!

Doc he has one of those leads to connect to his phone, I don't like to encourage him

OP posts:
MyFirstMyLastMyEverythingBagel · 30/05/2014 19:48

OP I have a fiat also ... although the sensible thing would be to get a garage to look at it ... my warning lights come on and off all the time, the rear fog light, the oil level light (all fine) and the bloody air bag light is constantly on, and then off. It was off when it went for its mot and it sailed through, and now it's on again. I've read that fiat electronics are rubbish also to agree with a previous poster :)

MyFirstMyLastMyEverythingBagel · 30/05/2014 19:49

A stilo estate no less here

Original poster
brt100 · 30/05/2014 19:49

Thanks myfirst!, does the engine light come on? If it was any other light I would be less worried! But this is the worst one I think

OP posts:
gotnotimeforthat · 30/05/2014 19:50

I wouldn't ignor a persistent judder. It could be anything from your engine mounts to your spark plugs. The juddering will likely causes other damage around the engine too.

OftheTwilighttheDarkness · 30/05/2014 19:50

So long as it starts and the engine does not over heat it should be fine for a while. Listen out for weird noises and check your oil.
I would try and get it looked at eventually though ( advice is taken at your own risk). ;0)

Sparklingbrook · 30/05/2014 19:51

If it's a red light it needs looking at.