Daihatsu Sirion Engine Management Light

[boxtops]

Does anyone have (or had) one of these cars? My engine management light on the dashboard came on last night, the manual says (in an oriental manner) "this shows there is something wrong with the catalytic converter - take it to your dealer" - other forums suggest other drivers have had this happen to no ill effect and the light just goes off after a while. It came on again today as soon as I switched on the ignition.

Any ideas, please?

[tonyav]

Only way to find out for sure is to get the car plugged into a diagnostics machine, boxy. Also you could try disconnecting the battery for five mins, this usually resets the ECU. if you do disconnect the battery make sure you have the radio code before you do it.
Also if the engine management light is on it does not necessarily mean it's the catalytic converter, it could be any of a number of things.

[boxtops]

Thanks tony - I think I'll need to take it to a place then - not good with engines, and I have no idea where I'd find the radio code.

[tonyav]

Does it seem to be ( the engine ) running any differently since the engine management light came on, boxy ?.

[boxtops]

No, not at all, there is no difference in engine noise or performance as far as I can tell. I parked it at the station yesterday morning - the light didn't come on on the way there - then when I got in it to come home, the light was on.

[tonyav]

Mmmm ok boxy, just trying to get a clue about what as caused it to come on.

[boxtops]

Just a normal day yesterday..... had the blower on, trying to clear the windscreen, had the headlights on, nothing unusual.

[tonyav]

Could be anything boxy, but not to serious by the sounds of it other wise your car would be running rough.

[Prudie]

My daughter has one which she inherited. Not quite the same but the airbag and ABS light has been on for several years despite diagnostics and testing finding nothing wrong with either of those systems.

[boxtops]

ah - thank you prudie - and thank you tony for your efforts, much appreciated. It's due for service in early Feb, I'll try to keep it hanging on until then!

[tonyav]

When's the MOT due, boxy ?.

[boxtops]

same time, tony, mid-Feb.

[tonyav]

Well it will probably fail with the engine management light on boxy, MOT testers don't usually like to see warning lights on.

[karenmac60]

Boxy, my engine management light came on a few months ago - just a few weeks before service and MOT were due. I phoned the dealer's service dept for advice and they said as long as the car was running ok and the light was constant (not flickering or going on and off) then it should be fine to drive. Sure enough when I took it for service, it was one of tge sensors for the engine management system that need replacing. Apparently it's quite common. Might be best to ring your garage or dealer to check though.

[boxtops]

Thanks Karen - just as an update, they told me the same thing (about the light not flashing, if it does it's serious) so I took it to the garage yesterday and they ran a scan on it. Turns out that that light can indicate anything wrong including exhaust problems, and the test shows there's a fault on the the oxygen thingy (don't have the doc in front of me :-) - which could cause the car to fail MOT in a few weeks' time on emissions if I don't get it fixed. They're getting me a new part, and will fit it at the same time as doing the MOT.