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

[brt100]

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.

TantrumsAndBalloons is there a fiat helpline number I can call?

You don't sound mature enough to be driving tbh if you are taking the advice of people who haven't seen your car and ignoring those that aren't saying what you want to hear.

If there is something wrong with your car and it causes an accident that ends in injury or death for someone you will be in trouble for it when they find out there was a problem with you car you decided to ignore.

Stop being so stupid and get it checked.

00800 3428 0000

It is a free phone number and yes it is 00800 not 0800

Don't ask me why. I don't know. It used to be 0800. Then it changed

The best way to decide whether you can ignore is to read the fault code. A minor fault may not be a problem but as others have said, sometimes it is much better to fix sooner rather than later to avoid a huge bill. You say your DH has a fault code reader. If that is the case, the best thing you can do is TELL HIM NOW so he can work out what the fault code is and you can decide together whether it is sensible to act. You could get a garage to do the same thing but it would cost you at least £40.

For those getting their knickers in a twist about the OP's car being dangerous, this is an ENGINE management light. The brakes, steering, suspension and chassis are fine as far as we know. There is a reason the MOT doesn't give a fig about the engine condition (except for emissions): it does not affect the safety of other road users.

Where are you bgt? My dh would plug it in his diagnostic if that helps? He doesn't charge for advice and has just gone to garage.

Thanks tantrum :)

I don't sound mature enough because I'm asking for advice online? What a ridiculous stance. Who's to say I'm ignoring anyone, the first time the light came on I wasn't sure and since it came on the 2nd time I hvanet driven since but don't let facts get in the way of being offensive.

I'm in essex bird, friend is coming round later with an app to read it, apparently only takes a min

Thanks sleepless for adding some needed logic to all the people acting as if I'm driving a atomic bomb around

Ah sorry, wrong bit of England. Orange is not serious, red is serious. My airbag light comes on when I adjust my seat, tis a common fault, my dm's does too despite being completely different make/model. If he was still here he would tell me what it is but he's off to mend a lorry. Anyway I recommend you take it to a local garage and not a dealership (they charge around 3/4 times more for same work)

check the oil level when the engines cold first of all, if its low - top it up and see how it goes, is it a petrol or diesel? could be a blocked fuel filter also, if you can find out where yours is under the bonnet give it a bash a few times and see how it is after that.

brt100 I wish we had had an engine warning light before our Renault developed a major fault and the engine management system kicked in. We were travelling at 70 mph in the outside lane on the motorway, on a busy Sunday afternoon. The car came to an almost standstill, it wouldn't go above 10mph.

Fortunately DH is a very experienced driver, 20+ years at that point, didn't panic and got us to the hard shoulder. How would you react to that?

When the car was recovered it cost us over £1000 to get it fixed. Had we have known the part was dodgy, it would have been less than a third.

You are, IMO, being incredibly irresponsible not getting your car checked out. It might be nothing, but there is a chance that it is not!

Thanks bird, must be a very useful to have a dh with those skills. Why did I marrysomeone that works insurance, that's not useful at all!

Friend of mine's car burst into flames, randomly. Cars do that - she only just got her kids out. I know it is very rare but they do (I saw a car on fire on the motorway hard shoulder last month). I think you are absolutely barking to ignore this. What if something awful happened when you were in the fast lane of the motorway? What if it caused a crash and someone else got killed?

Tbh fairy my car only cost 600 and it passed its not a few months ago and had all its levels checked. I only go on30\40 mile roads.

Silver I haven't driven it since the light flashed on for the second time and ithe first time I wasn't sure what it Kent.

It makes no difference how much it cost, or how far you drive or at what speed. If you do not get it looked at that could happen to you! You could cause an accident, FFS! Just get the bloody thing looked at or take it off the road!

OP, found this on the Fiat forums - it suggested to someone with a similar ish problem that they buy a cable that plugs into the diagnostics port and into the USB port on a laptop and where to get the right software to read it.

I've already said I haven't driven it since and have a friend coming round with an app later! What more do you want?!

You could take it to a garage and ask them to run a diagnostic check on it. They will tell you the code, and the fault and how much to sort it. Can't remember how much it costs but give a few a call and see. IainKwik Fit is £25ish .

Silver I haven't driven it since the light flashed on for the second time and ithe first time I wasn't sure what it Kent.

Really? In your OP you said " The check engine light is now coming on a couple of times a week".

No point asking for advice if you are choosing to only listen to the posters telling you what you want to hear as you were at the start of the thread.

I forgot to tell him that I have currently 3 Orange lights on my dash, mainly because they are orange and he has told me in the past that it means "no immediate action required" if for instance your oil light came on red, you would need to stop immediately as it means you have absolutely no oil and your engine will seize.
It is indeed handy. I ended up marrying him because I said I would take him out for dinner instead of paying my bill and I forgot to.

Thanks squirrel although I get a 500 internal error on that page?

Yes fairy, I've only had it a week and its come on on two days, thought the first day it came on a couple of times.

OP, sorry missed the bit where you said you've got a mate coming round to check it, hopefully the ECU will have stored the code and you'll have an answer.

I would advise strongly against any chains...especially tyre fitting chains.

Fab do you even read these? I'm having it read today, so that means I'm not just listing to the people that say ignore it ffs!