Emissions warning light on steady, slightly hesitant to start

[martynzs]

Driving into work this morning and this little beauty has come on. No loss of power, no decrease in MPG, all sounds normal, idles normal, exhaust sounds fine. Turned it off/on again when I got to work (15 miles) hoping it would clear and it hasnt, but it did seem a little hesitant to start, turning over a few turns before firing...

What are we thinking chaps? Lambda?

Am I ok to drive it, as ill be pretty screwed getting to work otherwise! Anyone local to Canterbury area or Maidstone where I work that can plug it in as January isnt the idle time to be throwing money at Renault to diagnose

 

[Typhoon]

This happened to me not so long ago, as did the airbag light.
Turned out just to be the sensors, so fingers crossed for you!

 

[martynzs]

This happened to me not so long ago, as did the airbag light.
Turned out just to be the sensors, so fingers crossed for you!

Im hoping it will be nothing major, it drove ok and sounded the same, I have no choice but to use it!

I have just been reading up at various solutions, even claims of HG failure which has got me scared lol!

 

[martynzs]

If it means anything, I put in Esso SUL 97 last night for the first time, if that might be causing issues?! (it usually gets 95 only...)

Also turns out my dad has a generic fault code reader he 'kept' when he retired (MG master tech) so fingers crossed it will show up some info.

 

[Typhoon]

Changing the petrol shouldn't cause that. Just hope its not your ECU packing in!

 

[Beef-Mc]

IIRC that light just means that it's had a poor start up, extra fuel flung down the exhaust or whatever, couple of clean start ups should see the light clear.

 

[rdoxenham]

IIRC that light just means that it's had a poor start up, extra fuel flung down the exhaust or whatever, couple of clean start ups should see the light clear.

Possible indeed... I'd also look for signs of failing cat or lambda sensor. If you know an MOT guy, they may be able to check the emissions for you. Alternatively, as you said, find someone with a code reader locally.

 

[martynzs]

Thanks for the help guys, im hoping it's the lambda, it was on my list of things to change anyway to get it running spot on, so this might be the time! Failing that, its de-cat time...its just ticked over 73k, so it probably is imminent!

Ill head out and take a look at lunch, give it a blast up the road and see what it does...assuming it starts!

Phoon, lets hope not

 

[martynzs]

I should be able to to get this checked out tonight/tomorow evening, in the meantime am I OK to drive it to and from work steadily, ~40 miles a day?

 

[182_Adam]

Yes you're fine driving it mate, if you weren't the red engine management light in the centre of the dash would come on along with "STOP". Get a diagnostic on it to be sure. Mine's on all the time (decat) and it's absolutely fine.

 

[martynzs]

UPDATE

I have had the car plugged into a ODB reader thing, and this is the outcome:

Fault light cleared and it hasn't come back on yet...

 

[Mark-387]

Lambda sensor try swapping them over first before you get another one.