Engine Management Light - Driving Test

Hi all,

the brother has his driving test in 2 weeks. The engine management light on his 2002 1.0L Polo is on. Can you do your test if it's on? I'm thinking no!

He's off to Oz in a few weeks for work so he's reluctant to spend money on the car, but I'm thinking he'll have to to get that light off. Anyone any clues? Thanks!

Mycroft H

black tape over light :P

or just borrow a driving instructors car would work

BX 19

BX 19 wrote: »

black tape over light :P

or just borrow a driving instructors car would work

he's reluctant to do this because he failed in the instructor's a few weeks ago (left the indicator on!). He needs the license for work in oz and is confident he can pass in his own car. Having a provisional, he gets nervous in someone else's. Also with going to oz he needs to NOT be spending money here and to get some practice in in the instructor's and use it for the test costs money.

**Timbuk2**

No, the tester won't take him out if the engine management light is on, and he'll have 'technically' failed it as a result, as you'll have wasted the €85.

Get a mechanic to look at it and see what's wrong - it could be something cheap and inexpensive to fix, or it could be something serious, that probably should be fixed if it's being driven!

**Timbuk2**

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

No, the tester won't take him out if the engine management light is on, and he'll have 'technically' failed it as a result, as you'll have wasted the €85.

Get a mechanic to look at it and see what's wrong - it could be something cheap and inexpensive to fix, or it could be something serious, that probably should be fixed if it's being driven!

it's something to do with the exhaust, job will cost 300. Not urgent according to mechanic but will have to be done for NCT but he'll be in oz by then!

Tefral

take the bulb out... be no harm to get it at least diagnosed before hand could be something small..

**Timbuk2**

In that case, using the instructor's car is the best idea.

Everyone probably feels a bit more comfortable driving their own car, but if you can pass the test in one car, then you can pass in another car - it's not the cars fault the indicator was left on :P. Maybe if he books a lesson before the test, he'll get a bit of extra time getting used to the car before the test itself!

I think it's gonna be his only choice. Thanks for the advice. He's gonna be concentrating on that indicator so much now he'll probably do something ridiculously stupid!

CiniO

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

No, the tester won't take him out if the engine management light is on, and he'll have 'technically' failed it as a result, as you'll have wasted the €85.

Any reason for that?
Engine management light might mean nothing.
If car is still roadworthy, why should he not allow him to take it for a test?
If he took a car for NCT with engine light on, it would pass (assuming car is allright).

lau1247

CiniO wrote: »

Any reason for that?
Engine management light might mean nothing.
If car is still roadworthy, why should he not allow him to take it for a test?
If he took a car for NCT with engine light on, it would pass (assuming car is allright).

I might mean nothing but they don't take any dim view on these matter..

My uncle once went for a test and they failed him as one of the reply stated above 'technically' because one of his light bulb was not working.. The kicker was that it was working fine the day before when he checked at the time..

VolvoMan

As mentioned already, put a piece of black tape over the light. The tester definitely will not go out in the car if it's on.

It's stupid, I know.

CiniO

lau1247 wrote: »

I might mean nothing but they don't take any dim view on these matter..

My uncle once went for a test and they failed him as one of the reply stated above 'technically' because one of his light bulb was not working.. The kicker was that it was working fine the day before when he checked at the time..

But it's illegal to drive with a not working light.
It's not illegal though to drive with an engine management light. All it means is just a car telling the driver something like that: "I think there's something wrong with me. Could you please take my to the garage when you've got a moment".
I strongly disbelieve examiner is allowed to fail someone for that.

VolvoMan

CiniO wrote: »

I strongly disbelieve examiner is allowed to fail someone for that.

Well it happened to me.

Alanstrainor

This document is pretty clear on the matter
Section 12 J states:

12 j) Today’s vehicles are fi tted with a number of warning lamps on a dashboard that let the driver know if
certain critical safety, and performance features are not working properly. They are important safety
features and it is in the interest of the driver and road safety that all safety systems in the vehicle are
in full working order. Consequently any warning Lights indicating a malfunction or a defect, that shows
before or during the test may lead to the non-conducting/non-completion of your test,

MascotDec85

Black tape?

Come on, the testers aren't idiots!!

CiniO

Alanstrainor wrote: »

This document is pretty clear on the matter
Section 12 J states:

That's a bit inconsistent.

Today’s vehicles are fitted with a number of warning lamps on a dashboard that let the driver know if
certain critical safety, and performance features are not working properly

That's true.

They are important safety
features and it is in the interest of the driver and road safety that all safety systems in the vehicle are
in full working order.

First they mentioned safety and performance features.
Now they are talking only about safety features, and safety system, which must be in full working order.

Consequently any warning Lights indicating a malfunction or a defect, that shows
before or during the test may lead to the non-conducting/non-completion of your test,

Now it's about any light indicating defect or malfunction.

So I'm completely confused now.
First they say about safety system, and now they say about any defect.

I understand if car is indication a problem with brakes, it should not go for a test.
But when it's indication of malfunction of parking sensors, because they were broken, or it's a indication of f.e. immobileiser which was disabled for some reason, it's completely mad not to allow such vehicle for a test.

Seems unfortunately that's the case.

Taking off the bulb or maybe using a black tape seems to be an option.