engine warning light help please

desertfox · Unread post by **desertfox** » 10 Jul 2010, 20:09

Hi All

Today driving to work on motorway about 65mph,noticed engine warning light had come on,car drives the same as normal.

What is the likely cause of this,and can you reset anything to clear the light so i can see if it comes on again?

If you can what is the procedure please?

Help me if you can (xsara 1.4lx y reg).

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 11 Jul 2010, 08:47

The trick here is to get the car plugged into a Lexia diagnostic unit so you can find out what the problem is!

The warning light is just that, an indicator that something is failing, has failed or requires replacement or adjustment. That is your next course of action.

H,

desertfox · Unread post by **desertfox** » 11 Jul 2010, 09:56

thanks for reply,understood,but for now i wanted to know how i can reset it and get rid of light if poss.

Pleassseeee

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 11 Jul 2010, 10:16

See my reply above!

Was the light that came on the engine management light (yellow), sometimes refered to as the 'K' light or the red "STOP" light?

If it was the former, you need to get the diagnostic system checked.

If it was the latter, you need to heed the instruction "STOP" and either get the problem resolved or get somebody competent to fix it, as driving the car in this condition may be dangerous, to occupants or the systems in the car.

If your resolution is just to extinquish the lamp and not heed the warnings, remove whatever parts of the dash are needed to gain access and take out the offending lamp. Then you can drive on in complete ignorance.

H

Unread post by **myglaren** » 11 Jul 2010, 10:21

As handyman says, you really need to link it to a Lexia diagnostic computer to see where the problem lies and help decide where to look for a solution.

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 11 Jul 2010, 11:57

desertfox wrote: for now i wanted to know how i can reset it and get rid of light if poss.

You have to repair the actual fault first.

desertfox · Unread post by **desertfox** » 11 Jul 2010, 12:40

totally understand why its there and it needs repairing,but i am asking can it be reset to clear the light and then i want to see if it returns.

Thanks Gary

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 11 Jul 2010, 15:12

Hi Gary,

The answer is maybe (some can't be cleared if the fault is permanent) but the only way to find out is to read the faults stored first.

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 11 Jul 2010, 15:21

Well, that's three of us now have told you the same thing.

My understanding is that Citroen put these warning lights on the dash to tell a driver that something with the car or its dynamics is faulty. They make the assumption, quite rightly in some cases, that the driver is ignorant of the systems used in the car and how to find and rectify faults.

Desertfox, you have yet to tell us whether the lamp that has illuminated is either the yellow engine management light or the more serious RED "STOP" lamp. In either case, continued driving without rectify a fault usually adds more damage to the systems, thereby increasing the eventual repair costs.

The only way you will extinguish the lamp is by plugging the car into a diagnostic unit, rectifying the fault and then resetting the sensor that illuminated the warning lamp. Quite simple really.

Or find the offending lamp and remove it.

H

desertfox · Unread post by **desertfox** » 11 Jul 2010, 18:40

hey guys didnt mean to offend anyone,i understand your advice and thanks.
It is just the engine managment light continuously lit,nothing else.

I will have a look and see if anyone can test it for me like you all suggested.

Im in stafford in anyone knows of whom i can see.

Thanks all
Gaz

daveyhairbear · Unread post by **daveyhairbear** » 11 Jul 2010, 19:28

You can buy simple OBD-2 diagnostic devices from Ebay and, I believe, Halfords.

These should allow you to read the fault code and once the fault is fixed, re-set the light.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 11 Jul 2010, 19:29

Have a look on this map to find your nearest Lexia owner.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 11 Jul 2010, 19:53

daveyhairbear wrote:You can buy simple OBD-2 diagnostic devices from Ebay and, I believe, Halfords.

Sadly, on a Y plate 1.4 a standard OBDII fault code reader is unlikely to work. It may as all petrol engines had to be OBDII compliant by 2001 but I'd not bank on a Y plate Citroen or Pug to be compliant.

Although the diagnostic connector looks the same as a standard OBDII one, the protocols that come out of it are in no way the same and an OBDII reader will not make any sense of them.

A Lexia is the only way to go to accurately tell you what is bringing on the light.

handyman · Unread post by **handyman** » 11 Jul 2010, 23:00

Desertfox, you can try and leave the battery disconnected for about half an hour. If it is an intermitent fault, it may switch the light off, otherwise your only route is Lexia. Only do this if you know your radio code, otherwise it may be a visit to a main dealer to get the code and they sometimes charge for this.

Handyman, :wiggle: