Car engine warning light on. Garage said no issues

screamer · 06-07-2019 06:43PM #1

Bought a car second hand from a dealer with 6 month warranty. Engine warning light came on, took it in, they reset the light and said the diagnostics showed nothing wrong at all.... nothing. 2 hours later, light is on again. I don’t believe that the light would be on if there’s nothing wrong. They’ve been hard to deal with regarding contacting them and booking in, and I think they’re not telling me the full story. What should I do?

Atlantic Dawn · 06-07-2019 06:48PM

When the light comes on it indicates a fault, the fault reader will then display what was wrong that triggered the fault. I'd say they are fobbing you off.

Perhaps get them to read the fault while you are there or alternatively bring it somewhere else to have the fault read and then get the seller to resolve it.

TCM · 06-07-2019 06:51PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote:

Perhaps get them to read the fault while you are there or alternatively bring it somewhere else to have the fault read and then get the seller to resolve it.

Shouldn't the garage be able to give a diagnostics print out?

Atlantic Dawn · 06-07-2019 06:53PM

TCM wrote: »

Shouldn't the garage be able to give a diagnostics print out?

Yes they know what's wrong I'd say but don't want to admit it, probably emissions related and are hoping to fob off OP.

06-07-2019 06:54PM

TCM wrote: »

Shouldn't the garage be able to give a diagnostics print out?

No

NickNickleby · 06-07-2019 07:04PM

Hi Screamer,

If you're near Artane in Dublin I can loan you a diagnostic reader. Had similar issue - light on, cleared light, shortly thereafter it came back on. Diagnostic said it was the lambda sensor. Bought a cheapo new sensor off ebay, and got the special socket to remove it from Halfords. Then had to borrow strong neighbour to turn the damn thing. I'll also loan you the socket if needed, but the neighbour might be a problem.

PM me if required.
Cheers.

d9oiu2wk07blr5 · 06-07-2019 07:05PM

screamer wrote: »

Bought a car second hand from a dealer with 6 month warranty. Engine warning light came on, took it in, they reset the light and said the diagnostics showed nothing wrong at all.... nothing. 2 hours later, light is on again. I don’t believe that the light would be on if there’s nothing wrong. They’ve been hard to deal with regarding contacting them and booking in, and I think they’re not telling me the full story. What should I do?

Bring the car to your own mechanic & they'll run diagnostics.

screamer · 06-07-2019 08:15PM

NickNickleby wrote: »

Hi Screamer,

If you're near Artane in Dublin I can loan you a diagnostic reader. Had similar issue - light on, cleared light, shortly thereafter it came back on. Diagnostic said it was the lambda sensor. Bought a cheapo new sensor off ebay, and got the special socket to remove it from Halfords. Then had to borrow strong neighbour to turn the damn thing. I'll also loan you the socket if needed, but the neighbour might be a problem.

PM me if required.
Cheers.

Very very kind of you but I’m nowhere near. I’m gonna bring it to my local dealer and get them to tell me what’s wrong and go from there, thanks all I’ll update thread when I have some news!

mickdw · 06-07-2019 09:25PM

They are messing you about.
If the engine light is on, there will be a fault logged.

corks finest · 07-07-2019 07:23PM

AA independent check,or a cheaper way bring to a main dealer ,plug it in , printout,back to the dealer with proof in your hand

colm_mcm · 07-07-2019 07:41PM

They’re basically fobbing you off which doesn’t bode well for them actually fixing the problem on warranty.

JustAThought · 07-07-2019 07:49PM

I'd get in contact with another dealer garage and get thsm to assess it. I had a warning light on my car for years & it passed NCT's if thats any consolation. If its under warantee still I woildnt be happy until it was properly diagnosed. Maybe the garage know something but equally mayve they're hiding not wanting to fix something expensive that might be revealed in an NCT -afterits out of waranter. You could also get in contact with SIMI who might be able to help or at least interested in regulating their members...

colm_mcm · 08-07-2019 07:20PM

JustAThought wrote: »

You could also get in contact with SIMI who might be able to help or at least interested in regulating their members...

tcawley29 · 08-07-2019 07:54PM

JustAThought wrote: »

You could also get in contact with SIMI who might be able to help or at least interested in regulating their members...

Dravokivich · 09-07-2019 03:05PM

JustAThought wrote: »

I'd get in contact with another dealer garage and get thsm to assess it. I had a warning light on my car for years & it passed NCT's if thats any consolation. If its under warantee still I woildnt be happy until it was properly diagnosed. Maybe the garage know something but equally mayve they're hiding not wanting to fix something expensive that might be revealed in an NCT -afterits out of waranter. You could also get in contact with SIMI who might be able to help or at least interested in regulating their members...

Why do people keep confusing SIMI as some sort of consumer group?

NickNickleby · 09-07-2019 03:48PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

Why do people keep confusing SIMI as some sort of consumer group?

In fairness (to me:pac:) I've always assumed membership of same implied a better class of customer service, such that a failure to satisfy might result in removal from their list. After all, they all proclaim themselves to be members of SIMI as though it should count for something.

Not that I'm naive or anything :eek::pac:

Leonard Hofstadter · 09-07-2019 07:17PM

The engine light is on because there is a problem with the exhaust emissions or the engine itself. The garage is feeding the OP a load of nonsense.

screamer · 01-08-2019 11:30AM

So just to come back on this diagnostics completed by another garage to tell me that the adblue heater has failed. I called the garage where I bought the car to be told owner is away (more fob off) but anyways I told them
Exactly what’s wrong so hopefully they’ll sort it out, but I’m not hopeful. So, If they won’t fix under warranty, I’ll get it fixed by the diagnostics garage and I swear to God I’m bringing the seller to the small claims court it’s about a 500 to 600 euro cost to me to fix.

colm_mcm · 01-08-2019 08:50PM

What car is it?

unkel · 01-08-2019 08:59PM

screamer wrote: »

I swear to God I’m bringing the seller to the small claims court

Indeed and you will win the case. Make sure you document everything though. Get the second opinion in writing, make a note of all the times you contact the dealer, give them ample opportunity to fix it, but start giving them a deadline if nothing happens. As a last resort, threaten with the SCC. If nothing then just log the case with the SCC (costs nothing) wait until it gets approved to go ahead. Then contact the dealer again showing this proof. I've been up to this stage twice and in both cases the companies I had an issue with contacted me within hours and paid up in full within a day. They know full well they will lose the case.

And if you still get nothing from them, pay the SCC fee and proceed. Best of luck and report back here!

Car engine warning light on. Garage said no issues

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