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Car engine diagnostic services

golfaddick
golfaddick Posts: 33,628
in Not Sports Related
Just wondered if any of you lovely people out there can help me. 

An amber warning light came up on the dashboard of my car on Saturday (Mercedes) and it appears to be the engine diagnostic service light. I've spoken to Mercedes & as the car is out of warranty (just) then I can take it anywhere to be checked out.

Anyone know of any good car service / engine diagnostic guys local to Swanley - or anyone mobile ones that come out to your home.  

many thanks

Comments

  • DaveMehmet
    DaveMehmet Posts: 21,601
    Not sure but I wouldn’t drive it whilst the warning light is on if I were you. 
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,729
    Maybe get a mobile mechanic with good reviews to take a look.
  • fat man on a moped
    fat man on a moped Posts: 932
    Could be something as simple as it's due a service. The handbook should give you an idea of what is wrong. 
  • Big_Bad_World
    Big_Bad_World Posts: 5,859
    Have PM'd you.
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,628
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Have PM'd you.
    Thanks.

    Will give him a call.
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,628
    fat man on a moped said:
    Could be something as simple as it's due a service. The handbook should give you an idea of what is wrong. 
    Handbook just says it needs a diagnostic check. Not unsafe to drive but needs looking at asap.
  • Cafc43v3r
    Cafc43v3r Posts: 21,600
    That happened to me, I just took the bulb out and it's been fine since............ 
  • SE10Addick
    SE10Addick Posts: 2,964
    It's worth getting a cheap(ish) reader.

    They are £30 or so and you can then google the code to get the explanation. My Audi started coming up with a warning about the emissions, but it wasn't actually a problem, just that with it being a diesel, after lots of short journeys, the particulate filter would flag.
    I just reset it now.
  • LoOkOuT
    LoOkOuT Posts: 10,857
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Have PM'd you.
    Take a day off Batman.
  • cafcnick1992
    cafcnick1992 Posts: 7,413
    SE10Addick said:
    It's worth getting a cheap(ish) reader.

    They are £30 or so and you can then google the code to get the explanation. My Audi started coming up with a warning about the emissions, but it wasn't actually a problem, just that with it being a diesel, after lots of short journeys, the particulate filter would flag.
    I just reset it now.
    Was going to say the same thing. Most diagnostic readers connect to your phone via Bluetooth and tell you what the issue is.

    The readers also let you turn off the check engine light which can be a good way of finding out whether the issue is genuine (i.e. it'll come back if it is).
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  • eaststandmike
    eaststandmike Posts: 14,956
    MuttleyCAFC said:
    Maybe get a mobile mechanic with good reviews to take a look.
    He wants his car fixed, not his iPhone 
  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,633
    edited July 2021
    LoOkOuT said:
    Big_Bad_World said:
    Have PM'd you.
    Take a day off Batman.
    Batman always give (a) Robin a hand
  • The Prince-e-Paul
    The Prince-e-Paul Posts: 6,688
    As for buying a reader some of the cheap ones won't work with Mercedes. I've had one for 8 years and end Spanner / check engine light has come on a few times over the years. Never has it been anything serious. I've had a fault on a Cat sensor for exhaust go faulty and the most recent was that it decided to throw a fit as it didn't like the Kenwood aftermarket stereo fitted 2 years after fitting and so put a little light on. To read you need a Sepcialist Mercedes Star system and it is expensive. Usually cost £2000 for the toughbook and annual subs to keep updated. I paid £25 cash at a local Auto electrician to reset mine a few months ago. The main stealers JCT 6000 wanted 2 hours labour so about £200+
  • cafcfan
    cafcfan Posts: 11,198
    Cafc43v3r said:
    That happened to me, I just took the bulb out and it's been fine since............ 
    You sound like my Dad. He always claimed there was nothing wrong with the car - just the warning light was faulty.

    I borrowed his Austin Princess one Christmas when my car was broken. Its throttle was jammed fully open. The only way to make any progress was to accelerate up to as fast as you could and then turn the engine off and coast back to normal speed and then turn the engine back on again. 

    I told him this when I got home feeling like a nervous wreck and all he said was, yeah, it's been like that for a couple of weeks.
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,628
    Thanks for all your help & suggestions. I have someone coming out to me on Friday. Will let you know the outcome then......
  • Cafc43v3r
    Cafc43v3r Posts: 21,600
    cafcfan said:
    Cafc43v3r said:
    That happened to me, I just took the bulb out and it's been fine since............ 
    You sound like my Dad. He always claimed there was nothing wrong with the car - just the warning light was faulty.

    I borrowed his Austin Princess one Christmas when my car was broken. Its throttle was jammed fully open. The only way to make any progress was to accelerate up to as fast as you could and then turn the engine off and coast back to normal speed and then turn the engine back on again. 

    I told him this when I got home feeling like a nervous wreck and all he said was, yeah, it's been like that for a couple of weeks.
    He lent you the motor, you got where you were going, and back.  What more do you want...... 
  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,633
    Could it be the park gates closing warning light?
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,628
    guinnessaddick said:
    Could it be the park gates closing warning light?
    Doh !! Why didn't I think of that.
  • charltonkeston
    charltonkeston Posts: 7,365
    edited July 2021
    It’s when the amber light flashes you have real problems. Everything else is non urgent. Could be the egr valve getting a little choked up. 
    You could try disconnecting the battery for an hour or so, things might reset, sometimes that works for a few weeks. 
  • SuedeAdidas
    SuedeAdidas Posts: 7,741
    Probably something to do with the Flux Capacitor I reckon.
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  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,846
    SuedeAdidas said:
    Probably something to do with the Flux Capacitor I reckon.
    I was thinking more inductor flange.
  • The Prince-e-Paul
    The Prince-e-Paul Posts: 6,688
    edited July 2021
    Any chance its your Connection Rod that is bent? 🤐
  • SuedeAdidas
    SuedeAdidas Posts: 7,741
    bobmunro said:
    SuedeAdidas said:
    Probably something to do with the Flux Capacitor I reckon.
    I was thinking more inductor flange.
    Dirty boy!
  • The Prince-e-Paul
    The Prince-e-Paul Posts: 6,688
    FFS believe it of not, Mercedes transmission packed up today. Had to drive home 15 miles in first gear, where it seems to be stuck. Auto electrician tomorrow. Bloody technology. Much better with my 205's, Defender, or Maestro. Combined they're about as technologically advised as as stickle bricks. 
  • IdleHans
    IdleHans Posts: 10,969
    Yep, it can't break if it's not there 
  • cafcnick1992
    cafcnick1992 Posts: 7,413
    And there's your lesson. Never buy an auto.

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