You find yourself with the engine failure light on or flashing and you wonder what is going on. Above all, you wonder how to fix the problem quickly since you are about to leave.
The only thing you know is that it is one of the most important lights in the car. If it stays on or flashes on the panel it indicates a specific problem. What is the problem and how to solve it?
Engine fault warning light on or flashing: what does it mean?
You can recognize the engine failure warning light from the other warning lights on the car panel due to its shape that looks like a tap, a stylized propeller yellow or orange. In more modern cars it appears as a message on the multifunction display.
Under normal conditions, when the vehicle is switched on, the engine warning light also comes on for a few seconds and then goes out. If it stays on or flashes it can signal three different ones powertrain problems which may concern:
- Power on;
- Goodwill;
- Supply / exhaust.
In particular, the engine failure warning light on can signal anomalies in the exhaust system, fuel system or acceleration pedal sensor. If it is blinking, it may indicate a FAP or catalyst problem.
If you notice along with the light on or flashing that the vehicle is struggling to start, constantly shuts down or behaves strangely, it could be dirty fuel or a refueling error (for example, petrol instead of diesel).
Engine failure warning light: how to turn it off
The safest and quickest way to avoid driving with the engine failure warning light on is take the car to the workshop by entrusting it to an expert. Resolving the problem immediately will avoid any damage and higher costs. The mechanic will take care of turning off the warning light.
Do-it-yourself, in this case, is not recommended because, more often than not, it does not solve the problem.
Among the various methods do-it-yourselfseveral motorists disconnect the car battery with the following procedure:
- disconnect the battery with the risk of erasing the memory of some components such as the radio;
- press and hold the horn for 30 seconds until the residual electricity of the capacitor is discharged;
- wait at least 15 minutes;
- connect the battery again.
This clears the codes and the engine light goes out. But be careful: the fact that the light goes out does not mean that the cause of the light coming on has been solved. It could turn on again if the problem of a fault persists. This is why entrusting the car to a workshop for a check remains the best way to solve the problem.
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