Random Acts Of Reality :: Not My Fault (This Time)

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Not My Fault (This Time)

by Reynolds on Mon 06 Jun 2005 08:29 PM BST | Permanent Link | Cosmos

It's not my fault this time...

I'm going to a job (the first of the night), and all of a sudden the engine loses all power and stops.

"Erm, Control", I tell the radio, "I'm sorry, you'll have to cancel this call, I've broken down".

I manage to start the engine again, although a warning light remains on (don't ask me what it is, I know my car doesn't have it).

"Can you get back to station?", Control asks.

"Sure", I reply - I hope this warning light isn't the "GET OUT! Engine about to explode" symbol.

So I slowly make my way back to the station - Control are trying to find another car for me, or failing that, possibly some floors that need sweeping...

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Comments

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by LearningNursing at 09:07PM (BST) on Jun 6, 2005 | Permanent Link

do they ever give you a propper motor (a big white van)? I know that round my way they have resorted to having RRV peoples out on a normal vehicle on their own.

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by LearningNursing at 09:10PM (BST) on Jun 6, 2005 | Permanent Link

Sorry: PS

The symbol means:

Check engine electrical system. If this light remains illuminated when the engine is started then it indicates there is a malfunction or abnormality with the engine electrical system. The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) stores the error condition(s). These can be accessed by shorting two connections in the diagnostics connector and counting the flashes the check engine electrical system warning light then makes or conecting the car to a computer. You can now sound like a know it all when the vehicle fixy people in the green van turn up.

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by Anonymous at 09:30PM (BST) on Jun 6, 2005 | Permanent Link

Ah, you've buggered it up now...

Glad the LAS's Astra's are as reliable as ours are (lol)

PC Plod

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by Madelaine at 09:35PM (BST) on Jun 6, 2005 | Permanent Link

That pesky light! Mine was checked out at the garage and they couldn't find anything wrong except something with the CAT. It's been on 3 months now. They said if I wasn't losing power and if engine was running normally, not to worry about it as it will go into 'safe' mode if anything goes badly wrong. I understand it is the 'engine management system' but it took a week to find that out. Think I'll put black masking tape over it!
Hope you get fixed.

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by Luc at 11:45PM (BST) on Jun 6, 2005 | Permanent Link

I'm sure I spotted an RRU Megane Scenic today (nr Watford). Great for those wine trips to France :-)

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by Anonymous at 02:43AM (BST) on Jun 7, 2005 | Permanent Link

it can be something as simple as the as cap being loose, or a scary scary misfire.

simple fix: disconnect the battery for 30 seconds to clear it, if it comes back then it's a serious problem, if it doesnt it's no biggie.

-Andrew

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by Anonymous at 04:52AM (BST) on Jun 7, 2005 | Permanent Link

It be the computer, nothing can go wrong go wr....n...g .....go w ng.
Ask for Hal to be your copilot. He will tell you must have gas[sorry petrol] in the tank.
or was it that , your under cover computer, wanted the the day off, inorder to see that cute tech in High Barnet.
dung beetle

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by Anonymous at 09:19AM (BST) on Jun 7, 2005 | Permanent Link

Was it a German car?? :-)

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by Anonymous at 11:03AM (BST) on Jun 7, 2005 | Permanent Link

Good to see they give you the manual/training to go with the vehicle.

As identified, engine warning light, fault code triggering "should" be stored, may go out if ignition switched off and on indicating an intermittent condition which may re-occur, wouldn't disconnect battery as may clear fault code. With the light on vehicle will run with default settings it should still be safe to drive (assuming smoke not coming out of bonnet etc), but it will not perform as normal acceleration wise.

These faults especially when intermittent can be difficult to trace, (even by the dealers) but I'd never ignore them in the longer term they do re-occur.

Re: Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by gordonjcp at 01:49PM (BST) on Jun 7, 2005 | Permanent Link

These faults especially when intermittent can be difficult to trace, (even by the dealers)

That's because the dealers are usually muppets. There will be a code stored for the faulty part. If it's intermittent, nine times out of ten it will be a damaged or corroded connector.

Re: Not My Fault (This Time)

by gordonjcp at 01:02PM (BST) on Jun 7, 2005 | Permanent Link

I keep getting an engine warning light in my ageing Citroen XM. Thing is, the fault code keeps changing - I fix one bit, another one shows up. I fix that, then another shows up. I fix *that*, and the first one comes back. The best bit is, one of the faults is a part you can test in selftest mode - all the relays and valves click on and off for a few seconds - and it tests OK. Then you start the car and *immediately* you get 26 ACAV VALVE SHORT CIRCUIT. Grumble...

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