Engine Management Light at 7322 Miles and 17 Months Old - What a Faff!

[Loadmaster748]

Well, I was greeted by an illuminated yellow EML light on the dash yesterday evening - it could be something or nothing of course, but what it is is disappointing when the car's so young and with low miles. I now have the faff of trying to get my local main dealer to show some interest tomorrow in taking it in for diagnosis and remedial action.

I did call the AA yesterday evening but due to the light only being at "DEFCON Yellow", they were unwilling to take a look for themselves. However, for what it's worth they did suggest that it's likely to be an emissions system problem - hey ho.

I'll provide an update tomorrow hopefully.

 

[tracktoy]

As we see a lot of issues with electronics and sensors I would recommend you get yourself and OBD2 Reader so at least you will know what the error code is and can then decide how urgent it is.

 

[Loadmaster748]

As we see a lot of issues with electronics and sensors I would recommend you get yourself and OBD2 Reader so at least you will know what the error code is and can then decide how urgent it is.

Thanks, it crossed my mind a month or so ago.

Can you, or anyone else reading this, recommend a brand to go for?

 

[James_R]

Thanks, it crossed my mind a month or so ago.

Can you, or anyone else reading this, recommend a brand to go for?

Obdeleven

 

[tracktoy]

OBD11 or CARISTA are the two that spring to mind. If all you want is a DTC Code reader with OBD11 you just have to buy the dongle not the subscriptions

 

[Momochi]

Obdeleven

Hi James, does it work with newer VAG vehicles which my old OBDII scanner can no longer do the maintenance reset due to SFD2?

 

[Loadmaster748]

Car booked into main dealership for remedial action next week.

 

[Loadmaster748]

It was the engine oil filler cap, not fully secure. Basically it was an emissions warning.

 

[James_R]

When was it last removed and how had it become insecure?

 

[Loadmaster748]

When was it last removed and how had it become insecure?

At its oil service a few days before the light appeared. Presumably not fully tightened.

 

[James_R]

At its oil service a few days before the light appeared. Presumably not fully tightened.

It can only be the fault of one person then

 

[Loadmaster748]

It can only be the fault of one person then

It would seem that way.

But the light's gone and there was no genuine technical fault or error in the sense of something broke/failed.

 

[BoomerBoom]

It could have been worse, after one main dealer service and warranty repair to the actuator my under tray detached when the turbo hose blew off on the motorway - how we laughed when the dealer refused to recover the car and we had to drive it 20 miles back to them. Luckily they had no shame and took five days to repair their damage.

 

[Momochi]

It was 20-something years ago, had my Rover annual-serviced at a dealer in the north (Bishop Auckland), next day car refused to start, called the AA who spent over an hour to pinpoint the issue (dirty distributor). Drove the car back to dealer immediately who later admitted the fault at their side.... Missed a whole day of lectures.

 

[Loadmaster748]

It could have been worse, after one main dealer service and warranty repair to the actuator my under tray detached when the turbo hose blew off on the motorway - how we laughed when the dealer refused to recover the car and we had to drive it 20 miles back to them. Luckily they had no shame and took five days to repair their damage.

That's dreadful - I'm only getting the car serviced at the local main dealer whilst it's under warranty, after that it's back to the local VAG indie

 

[Momochi]

Below is a photo posted in a Facebook group yesterday, taken by an independent garage in the Manchester area.

Where was the oil sump plug?????

The car owner/driver, believed to be a lady with minimal knowledge of mechanical stuffs, took the car to dealer for annual service. Some times later she started the car one day and got an engine warning light plus an oil pressure light in the dash. Being foolish and with no knowledge of what they meant, she continued to drive onto the motorway for 30mins, until smoke coming out of the bonnet. She stopped the car and called the RAC, and later had the car towed to that garage.

It is believed the oil sump plug had not been tightened enough according to manufacturer's requirement during the lubricant change at dealer, and had loosened and eventually lost while driving.

According to the garage, it is a KIA. The engine could still be started, but seems all mechanical parts in it requiring lubricant would have been damaged.

 

[Loadmaster748]

Below is a photo posted in a Facebook group yesterday, taken by an independent garage in the Manchester area.

Where was the oil sump plug?????

The car owner/driver, believed to be a lady with minimal knowledge of mechanical stuffs, took the car to dealer for annual service. Some times later she started the car one day and got an engine warning light plus an oil pressure light in the dash. Being foolish and with no knowledge of what they meant, she continued to drive onto the motorway for 30mins, until smoke coming out of the bonnet. She stopped the car and called the RAC, and later had the car towed to that garage.

It is believed the oil sump plug had not been tightened enough according to manufacturer's requirement during the lubricant change at dealer, and had loosened and eventually lost while driving.

According to the garage, it is a KIA. The engine could still be started, but seems all mechanical parts in it requiring lubricant would have been damaged.

Such a simple omission can cause such major damage.

 

[James_R]

Happens on a regular basis, should be idiot proof, but idiots in the motor trade are on another level.

Replace the seal, torque the plug to spec, mark with a paint pen.