Warning lights??

[sistermag]

Hi, I'll apologise in advance if I am being a total girl here but...................
I have a 2001 Ford focus 1.6 petrol which normally runs perfectly!! This afternoon, I had a short journey to make but an accident ahead left me stuck in traffic (stopping and starting), then eventually taking a diversion. In all, the journey was approx 20 miles. Whilst sat in the traffic, an orange warning light (circle) with an exclamation mark on kept flicking on and off. I thought nothing of it really until about a mile from home, it came on permanently (along with the oil light) and the car started juddering. I managed to get the car home, but it was really struggling!! I had an MOT a month ago and the car passed with no advice (don't know if that's relevant- like I said, total girl!!).
I wondered if anyine had any idea what it could be before I take it to the garage and get ripped off!! Thanks so much :)

[erin-x]

This sounds like what happened to me a few weeks ago... I ended up having to get a new coil pack :| Take it to the garage asap x

[Everhelpful]

Do as erin says,asap.

[Old_Geezer]

If your vehicle starts juddering I'd take that as a sign that you've already pushed your luck rather far and you should stop and get the car checked. Warning lights arenot there for fun. If you see one pull in and check in the manual how serious it is.

[sistermag]

EEk!! That doesn't sound promising!! But thanks for your answer :) How much did it cost you?

[sistermag]

Hi Old-geezer! Thanks for your answer!! This is the first time ever i've had a prob with the car so didn't know I had any luck to push :) It's the first and only time it's ever been juddery!! But I will defo be taking to the garage tomorrow x

[bednobs]

if your oil light came on, put oil in

[erin-x]

It was £100 initially I think but I had to take it back because they forgot to change the sparks plugs which they are supposed to do at the same time. That was an extra £25... I made sure they never charged for labour though!! Lol!

[sistermag]

Haha, bednobs! I am a complete girl (and a blonde one at that!!) but i'd at least managed that one :) It's more the exclamation mark light i needed to know about!!

[sistermag]

Thanks Erin, you've been really helpful!! xx

[erin-x]

No problemo :-) x

[ChuckFickens]

"if your oil light came on, put oil in"

Should be

if your oil light came on, check oil level with the dipstick, put oil in if needed.

(and if anyone doesn't know how to check the oil they shouldn't be in charge of a car)

[Purple_Popple]

If its an orange light its not that serious it just means something needs topping up (fuel, oil, water etc) - if its a red light then do not drive on and seek breakdown cover immediately.

[sistermag]

thanks purple_popple, it's orange!! Phew!!

[Bazza2764]

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/ have a look on here, costs nowt to join and the forum has a lot of experience. ask the question, im sure someone will help

[Hopkirk]

If the oil light comes on permanently, you should switch the engine off asap, or you risk wrecking it.

[TWR]

I think you will find that with stopping / starting the car was near to over heating, to check if your car's fan is working ( This cools the radiator down) make sure you are in Nutral start the car & leave it running a while until the temp gauge raises up to the red, the electric fan should come in before it reaches the RED ( HOT) AREA.

[Hopkirk]

Overheat in winter TWR?

The oil light was on and it was juddering. Close to seizing up for lack of oil, I would have thought.

[TWR]

A car can over heat at any time Hop, but there are reasons, Water, Fan, as you say Oil.