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Engine Malfunction Warning Light!

  • 20-05-2009 9:25am
    #1
    az2wp0sye65487
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭


    This appeared on the dash at the weekend. I was a little worried as I live in Dublin but was in Kerry at the time. I drove home on Monday and although the light was still on I didn't notice any difference while driving.

    On Monday I brought the car back to the dealer where I bought it (still within 1 year warranty) who did a diagnostic and they said the problem was with an oxygen sensor (?). They said that they had fixed it, they test drove the car and could find no other obvious faults.

    They washed the car and everything for me; and since the light was no longer showing I was happy with that! But it came on again yesterday evening!

    I'm going to ring them now, but I was wondering if anyone could shed any light as to why it might be happening! - The car is a 2003 Nissan Almera Saloon.

    Also, I should have mentioned - I thought I noticed a drop in acceleration this morning while driving to work. But I don't know if I'm imaging this to re-enforce the notion that something could be wrong with it! Anyway I called and booked it in to be checked again this week.

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    E39MSport
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭E39MSport


    The car's ecu (control unit) monitors all of the electronic sensors around the car. The O2 sesor is usually in the exhaust afaik and is responsible for emission control I think. The garage should be able to diagnose the car by attaching a computer to the ECU and it will tell them whats wrong. Any number of sensors can throw a fault code and its not uncommon.
    Just bring it back as you stated. I would watch what they are doing if I were you. Make sure they don't go near the instrument cluster - you can never be sure.


  • #3
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Oxygen sensor is the Lambda sensor in the exhaust downpipe as a rule.


  • #4
    az2wp0sye65487
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭az2wp0sye65487


    E39MSport wrote: »
    The car's ecu (control unit) monitors all of the electronic sensors around the car. The O2 sesor is usually in the exhaust afaik and is responsible for emission control I think. The garage should be able to diagnose the car by attaching a computer to the ECU and it will tell them whats wrong. Any number of sensors can throw a fault code and its not uncommon.
    Just bring it back as you stated. I would watch what they are doing if I were you. Make sure they don't go near the instrument cluster - you can never be sure.

    Thanks, but what's the instrument cluster?


  • #5
    E39MSport
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,721 ✭✭✭E39MSport


    The bit on the dash with the speedo etc in. Less scrupulous mechanics might disable the bulb rather then fix the problem. Sorry to all you honest guys out there but it happened to me...
    K


  • #6
    az2wp0sye65487
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭az2wp0sye65487


    E39MSport wrote: »
    The bit on the dash with the speedo etc in. Less scrupulous mechanics might disable the bulb rather then fix the problem. Sorry to all you honest guys out there but it happened to me...
    K

    Cheers, but they didn't disable it if it came back on again yesterday! I'm not sure if I can say where I bought it here - but it's a reputable dealer, sharing the name of a certain Radio 1 DJ!


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  • #7
    beam99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 247 ✭✭beam99


    The almera gave a good few problems with air flow meters. MAF


  • #8
    lifers
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭lifers


    Stevie,

    I had a 01 almeara with the same light on...sometimes lost power just like yours..Changed rear O2 sensor twice to no avail. Never got to the bottom of it.

    It passed NCT 2 weeks ago and I sold her last week with the light on and got a fair price for it!!

    So if it's under warrenty push to get it sorted...otherwise I would n't worry too much about it. The light came on mine at 65k miles and sold it with 92k miles.

    It drove just the same for those 27k miles with the light on...sometimes (maybe once every other week) losing power when taking off...

    A lad a work has the same car with the same light on, so if you get it sorted I'd be very interested to know how you did it!


  • #9
    allthedoyles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,893 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    Not a mechanic , but I was told that this fault is caused by driving the car consistently on low petrol ..............I mean on a nearly empty tank .

    Now I did'nt tell the experts , that I only put a fiver into the car at a time .......But anyway since then , I always make sure the petrol warning light does not come on .


  • #10
    az2wp0sye65487
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭az2wp0sye65487


    lifers wrote: »
    Stevie,

    I had a 01 almeara with the same light on...sometimes lost power just like yours..Changed rear O2 sensor twice to no avail. Never got to the bottom of it.

    It passed NCT 2 weeks ago and I sold her last week with the light on and got a fair price for it!!

    So if it's under warrenty push to get it sorted...otherwise I would n't worry too much about it. The light came on mine at 65k miles and sold it with 92k miles.

    It drove just the same for those 27k miles with the light on...sometimes (maybe once every other week) losing power when taking off...

    A lad a work has the same car with the same light on, so if you get it sorted I'd be very interested to know how you did it!

    The warranty isn't up until towards the end of the year. I had it booked in this morning, and it's typical, I get in the car to drive it to the dealer, and when I turn on the engine, no sign of the warning light at all! (like when your tooth-ache disappears while you're sitting in the waiting room at the dentist!)

    I still dropped it in and explained that it has been on for the last few days. Picking it up this afternoon. Hopefully it will be sorted then.
    allthedoyles wrote: »
    Not a mechanic , but I was told that this fault is caused by driving the car consistently on low petrol ..............I mean on a nearly empty tank .

    Now I did'nt tell the experts , that I only put a fiver into the car at a time .......But anyway since then , I always make sure the petrol warning light does not come on .

    Funny Man! :rolleyes: I didn't realise this was AH....


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