engine check light - con?

[Iggle Piggle]

I have owned two cars were the engine check light comes on while the car is driving fine.
The first car it happened on I took to the dealer and the fault was repaired and the light was 'reset' under warranty.
The light came on again out of warranty so I drove the car to the dealer to be told that some sensor had failed. A few hours later and £130 lighter I drove away again.
The next time the light came on, I drove to my friendly local garage who read the fault computer, laughed and reset the light. He said out of 8 faults reported, 2 meant the engine wouldn't have started !
SO I am thinking these lights are over-sensitive to make money for the dealers !
what do others think?

[Hymie]

Buy one of these and next time the engine check light is illuminated save yourself £130.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...t?hash=item1c0fb4d7e3

[tamborine]

Las Vegas in my car - everything flashes ;)

[rnchugg]

LOL @ BOL10X you made my day with that. I had a fiat Multiplaaaaaaaaahhhhhh that did something similar. Just followed that link Hymie. Thanks might by one of them.

[Nkakamasembe]

The unfortunate thing about the check lights is that nearly all car owners handbooks state that as soon as the light comes on take the car to a dealer.
Initially this check light system OBD11 (On Board Diagnostic) was based on keeping the exhaust emissions and fuel consumption in check.
So when you have the light come ON and car drives "fine" one or both of these checked parameters is out of spec. NOT that the car will break down their and then.But of course systems differ between models.Thats why reading the error codes is necesary,and when the culprit sensor/s and error code established,clearing the code is ALL it takes!

[Hymie]

Nkakamasembe makes some incisive comments re OBD codes – I would add that should you purchase an OBD scanner, such as the one linked above, displayed codes should be treated with caution. My advice would always be to clear the error codes – should they return, this might indicate a genuine problem.

Others have reported paying £30 for a garage to read the engine fault codes (or £130 to read & clear them) – my advice is that anyone owning a year 2,000 vehicle or newer should have access to an OBD scanner. As soon as reasonably practical, once the engine check light is illuminated – read (understand) and clear the fault codes.

Cheaper versions of OBD scanners are available (to the one linked), but it appears to have quite an advanced graphics display, able to give a graphical representation of data – rather than just numbers.

[Hymie]

In France, it is a legal requirement to carry a spare set of bulbs, no doubt from the days when a change of bulb could be achieved without the use of a tool.

I believe that this law has not been repealed, but unless you carry a mechanic and a set of tools, you are unlikely to be able to change a bulb on certain vehicles.

[Seafarer1966]

Vectras are notorious for warning light problems. I've known people take the bulb out of the back of the dash because it's so irritating.