Check Engine light

catyb20

Hi All,

Apologies if this is not the correct forum.

I have a VW Polo 00, the check engine light has come on and I need a catalyic convertor...that's fine BUT I have my driving test on Tuesday & I've been advised that they won't take me out with the light on.

I had a mechanic look at the car and he reset the check engine light last night, it stayed off while I travelled home but came back on this morning on the way to work.

I am wondering if there is anything I can do to to get it off and keep it off just for the duration of the test as I do not have time to get it fixed, or if there is possibly a way of hiding it from the testers view?

I tried driving my instructors car but it makes me too nervous and I really don't have much time to get used to it with the upcoming bank hol.

I don't know anyone else with the same car as mine so i am at a complete loss as to what to do.

Any ideas/suggestions?

George Dalton

Is it possible for you to get it cleared just before the test? That is probably your best bet.

catyb20

The mechanic said he could do that, but i have a feeling that the lifght comes on not after a certain number of miles, but i the car is turned off once faults a cleared and is then turned on again.

If it stays clear that's great but i really need a back up plan.

It's going to be a LONG long weekend with nerves of the test and now this!

cletus

Remove the bulb in question?

keithsfleet

As cletus said.
Remove the dash board cluster and simply give the offending bulb a 1/4 turn and she'll pop out. Problem solved.

catyb20

Is removing the dashboard a big job? I don't really know anything about these things.

George Dalton

These don't have a bulb for the MIL, they have an LED which is built into the cluster, so the remove the bulb option is not a runner in this case.

ironclaw

catyb20 wrote: »

Is removing the dashboard a big job? I don't really know anything about these things.

Its not a huge job to someone with basic DIY skills and has done basic maintenance before. It is however a big job if you don't fall into those categories.

The RSA says:

Any warning lights indicating a malfunction or a defect, which shows before or during the test, may lead to the non conducting/non-completion of your test.

That's pretty discretionary if you ask me. If it was me, I'd try get the car repaired as your going to have to do it anyway. You'd feel better in the back of your mind. Engine lights can be completely random, they arn't set to come on after X amount of miles. So with an exhaust system you could easily trip the sensor during a test (i.e. If you happen to stall, accelerate a little too hard etc)

Failing that, get it reset before the test and pray.

catyb20

Id have no problem getting it fixed but I won't have time to do that between now and tuesday with monday being a bank hol and in working till 6.

I dont know what to do. Can't even reschedule the test now cause the office is closed :-(

working fool

Hire a testers car for the test
Maybe one has a polo too ?

ironclaw

catyb20 wrote: »

Id have no problem getting it fixed but I won't have time to do that between now and tuesday with monday being a bank hol and in working till 6.

I dont know what to do. Can't even reschedule the test now cause the office is closed :-(

A good few mechanics open on Sat's and Sunday's these days if that makes it any easier. The repair would probably cost around the same as renting a testers car which is also a good idea as working fool said.

joujoujou

Disconnecting battery for couple of minutes will more than likely turn that light off. For at least one start of an engine, if that's just info re cat failure.