Real meaning of Warning Lights?

7th March 2013, 18:49

Hi -

I'm a new owner, having just bought an X-reg 1.1 model for my son to use.

Clearly not in showroom condition but that's fine - it is certainly quite sprightly and he likes it!

Just a couple of queries, please, about 'meaning' of a couple of warning lights in the dashboard array:

1) AIR BAG LIGHT
This is on all the time. Does it mean bag is non-functional (or what)?

2) ENGINE AUTO-DIAGNOSIS
This wasn't showing when we tested the car but has since come on, all the time. Car seems to be running perfectly well so what might it mean & how important is it?

Can either/both lights be 'turned off', I wonder?

Look forward to advice, please!

7th March 2013, 18:54

Get it on a reader to see why ecu light is on, they don't normally come on randomly.

Air bag light may be as simple as a loose connection under the seat, have a nosey

7th March 2013, 19:07

saxo are prone for the cables under the seat for airbag light but get it on a diagnostic and that will tell you what cable and engine management light (eml) well that could be anything get it on diagnostics

7th March 2013, 22:29

Get the codes read if it doesnt turn itself off after 3/4 good drives. I say that as mine used to hate the rain, would misfire and flash the eml.

As for airbag light, definately gonna be the cables under the seats

8th March 2013, 09:08

saxo airbags never work anyway.

8th March 2013, 09:15

fiver says airbag cable and bottom lambda sensor

8th March 2013, 09:22

Thanks for all responses so far - I'll certainly look around under the seats, hoping to spot any loose wires.

As to the other light and need for diagnostic plug-in, can anyone tell me whether this is somrthing that any garage can do or will I need Citroen? (oddly enough, this is the first 'modern' car that we have owned, with plug-in facility!)

I take the point about possible effects of wet weather (which we certainly have right now!) - again, crossed fingers!

Finally, how serious would the Lamda problem be?

8th March 2013, 09:27

Could get it plugged in at a garage.. but for the price you might aswell buy one of these : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OBD2-OBDII...item460d50ee61

And download an app called torque obd check.. Then you can view/delete ECU logged faults (even takes you to a webpage where it tells you what the fault code is)

Regarding the lambda - worse case scenario being £60 for a new one. Most likey won't need it though

9th March 2013, 14:13

UPDATE :

I've now had a look under the front seats; the passenger side is fully wired but the drivers side only has the orange wire coming up from the floor, missing the fly-lead that should link it to the cylinder at the side of the seat.

That explains it!

I'll now need to get that wire from somewhere - anyone got a spare? Or maybe it's something to get from a scrappie..............

(No progress with the other light - can't find any quick way to turn it off, as yet!)

9th March 2013, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4tt274

saxo airbags never work anyway.

yeah saxo airbags are shit

9th March 2013, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxova

Could get it plugged in at a garage.. but for the price you might aswell buy one of these : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OBD2-OBDII...item460d50ee61

And download an app called torque obd check.. Then you can view/delete ECU logged faults (even takes you to a webpage where it tells you what the fault code is)

Regarding the lambda - worse case scenario being £60 for a new one. Most likey won't need it though

where do you get that software? as i got given one of these readers but been struggling to find the software, is it free?

12th March 2013, 12:33

Yes, I would be interested to understand better, just how this device works - presumably, it plugs into the car's diagnostic port but do you then have to somehow link it to a mobile fone? Could it link to a laptop instead?

12th March 2013, 13:00

Yeah plug it into the diag port, Turn blue tooth on your mobile, connect and away you go! Real easy. Also could connect to it with a laptop, but obviously would need a bluetooth adapter.. So might aswell get a wired one if you want it on the laptop.

I got the torque app from the app market, and no it wasn't free - but only like £2.95.. Has a track recorder so you can have a overlay of different things eg map/g forces/mph/RPM/temps on your track videos. Can also log all these things to look at later. (doesn't pick up all the sensors on my engine but its a conversion so may work on others.)

All in all a great buy for sub £10.

Check to make sure yours is the OBD2 though.. sure its 2000+ And i see the car in question is on a X reg so should be OK, but double check to make sure.

12th March 2013, 13:10

That diagnostics will only work on cars with 3 plug ECU's.

Open the bonnet, over the drivers side arch sits the ECU. it will have one large plug or 3 small ones

Your EML is probably a cat or lambda fault. Long periods of idling and short journeys can trigger it.

12th March 2013, 13:13

The airbag light will be on if the car is older than 10 years and hasnt had the explosives changed. So in short, at the minute your air bag isn't working however you can get it fixed.

12th March 2013, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshSmith

The airbag light will be on if the car is older than 10 years and hasnt had the explosives changed. So in short, at the minute your air bag isn't working however you can get it fixed.

No it won't

My GTI is over 10 years old and the airbag light isn't on.

You're supposed to change them after 10 years, but it won't trigger a light.