Engine Management and Battery Light - PLEASE HELP :(

1. Babynikz Newbie Joined: Aug 2011 Aberdeen Posts: 18 Silver '02 Saxo VTS and a White Toyota Starlet

   #1 2nd September 2011, 10:17

   I posted this in a different category and I'm new to this so I dunno if I can move/delete it or whatever so I will just post it again in this section lol..
   
   I only just bought my Saxo VTS on Monday this week.. Since Iv had it, the battery light keeps flashing and this morning my engine management light started to flash and is now staying on.. What does this mean?? I love the car but am starting to get scared I have bought a bucket
2. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

   #2 2nd September 2011, 10:48

   You won't have bought a bucket, as with most cars that are bought second hand you can expect a list of repairs that need to be carried out - unless the car has had a previous owner that actually cared for the car, so don't worry. Is the battery light flashing constantly or it is more in a random fashion?
   
   The EML light is a hard one to diagnose without knowing how the car is running - you best bet is to take it to a decent independent garage and have the fault codes checked - common reasons for the light coming on (if the engine itself appears to be running okay) is faulty second lambda or a tired catalytic converter.
   
   good luck
3. Babynikz Newbie Joined: Aug 2011 Aberdeen Posts: 18 Silver '02 Saxo VTS and a White Toyota Starlet

   #3 2nd September 2011, 10:53

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Barry123 You won't have bought a bucket, as with most cars that are bought second hand you can expect a list of repairs that need to be carried out - unless the car has had a previous owner that actually cared for the car, so don't worry. Is the battery light flashing constantly or it is more in a random fashion? The EML light is a hard one to diagnose without knowing how the car is running - you best bet is to take it to a decent independent garage and have the fault codes checked - common reasons for the light coming on (if the engine itself appears to be running okay) is faulty second lambda or a tired catalytic converter. good luck

   When I picked it up, half way home it started to flash randomly, half the time the lights off but the other half it's flashing constantly then stays on a few minutes before going off again. Keeps doing that.
   
   The car is idling a bit dodgy but I had a Saxo 1litre for my first car and it did the same due to the induction kit (or so I was told).
   
   Thanks for your help
4. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

   #4 2nd September 2011, 11:04

   It's a common occurrence, based on my experience of the flashing battery light you've either got:
   1) a knackered alternator
   2) a knackered terminal connector to the alternator
   3) a knackered wire.
   
   With mine it was a knackered terminal connector and indeed most others who have this problem had the same culprit.
   
   A rough check would be to open the bonnet (when the engine is cool-ish and off), find the alternator (on the left side of the engine), and you'll see a two-wire connector pushed into it. It's known not to give a good connection. Remove the connector and bung a unwrapped paper clip into either side of each slot and give it a slight wiggle, that'll push the sides of the connector in a bit and give a better contact to the pins of the alternator - trust me this'll make a lot more sense when your having a rummage around the engine bay.
   
   If that doesn't sort it, locate a decent auto electrics and they should be able to help you out, rough prices are around £30 to correct it, so it's nothing super serious.
   
   Idle - ummm depends on your opinion of what 'rough' is. Is the car mpg okay, it's not smoking or anything daft?
5. Babynikz Newbie Joined: Aug 2011 Aberdeen Posts: 18 Silver '02 Saxo VTS and a White Toyota Starlet

   #5 2nd September 2011, 13:21

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Barry123 It's a common occurrence, based on my experience of the flashing battery light you've either got: 1) a knackered alternator 2) a knackered terminal connector to the alternator 3) a knackered wire. With mine it was a knackered terminal connector and indeed most others who have this problem had the same culprit. A rough check would be to open the bonnet (when the engine is cool-ish and off), find the alternator (on the left side of the engine), and you'll see a two-wire connector pushed into it. It's known not to give a good connection. Remove the connector and bung a unwrapped paper clip into either side of each slot and give it a slight wiggle, that'll push the sides of the connector in a bit and give a better contact to the pins of the alternator - trust me this'll make a lot more sense when your having a rummage around the engine bay. If that doesn't sort it, locate a decent auto electrics and they should be able to help you out, rough prices are around £30 to correct it, so it's nothing super serious. Idle - ummm depends on your opinion of what 'rough' is. Is the car mpg okay, it's not smoking or anything daft?

   Cool, thanks for the help. I will have to ask my boyfriend to do that as I haven't got a clue, but I'm glad it's not gonna be expensive!
   
   Nah it's not smoking, when I'm driving it's a bit stotty, I put it down to the fact it's lowered but it's something to so with the engine. It's only once the engine has heated up that the idling is weird, feels like it's going to cut out but it hasn't as yet. Not sure how to explain it.
6. Babynikz Newbie Joined: Aug 2011 Aberdeen Posts: 18 Silver '02 Saxo VTS and a White Toyota Starlet

   #6 3rd September 2011, 11:04

   **UPDATE**
   
   Te engine management light went off all last night and this morning until I was nearly home.. It started flashing again and spluttering, I tried to floor it and it has no power! When the light stops flashing, it just stays on and the car is back to running fine..
7. Catfish L-plater Joined: May 2011 Posts: 44

   #7 3rd September 2011, 11:07

   I had this a couple of months ago turned out to be my lambda sensor and cat went at the same time, normally if theres no change to the driving experiance then I'd go for lambda or cat. Is your car drinking fuel more?
8. Babynikz Newbie Joined: Aug 2011 Aberdeen Posts: 18 Silver '02 Saxo VTS and a White Toyota Starlet

   #8 3rd September 2011, 11:14

   I only got it on Monday so I'm not sure if it's taking more fuel than it should be..
   
   Is that expensive to fix?
   
   
9. kyle4256 Established Member Joined: Feb 2008 dundee Posts: 1844 saxo vts

   #9 3rd September 2011, 22:09

   lambda fault possably bringing the light on u need to get it diagnosed to find out
   
   loss of power this could be the fuel pump maybe? when u turn the key on listen to the back seat area ..do you hear it priming up?
   
   sounds like fuel pressure to me causing this also get a new fuel filter it might be clogged up!
   
   another thing is a faulty crank sensor could also cause this .
10. Catfish L-plater Joined: May 2011 Posts: 44

    #10 4th September 2011, 19:29

    the cost was £200 fitted so wasnt that bad to be honest mate
11. chinkostu Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD

    #11 5th September 2011, 08:25

    Coilpack maybe? Not the strongest part of the car unfortunately
12. kyle4256 Established Member Joined: Feb 2008 dundee Posts: 1844 saxo vts

    #12 5th September 2011, 18:39

    i dont think its the coilpack at all defo a fuel problem somewhere