Emission System Service Required Warning Message??

[bomberh]

Been out to my car this afternoon to go for a little drive in the sunshine and had the following warning come up:

“Emission System Service Required”

The engine light is illuminated and also a yellow warning triangle illuminated.

I turned the engine off for a moment. Then when I turned it back on again, after the self-check the same warning came up.

I can remove the warning by pressing the “read” button and the message goes away, but the yellow engine light is still illuminated.

Is there a real problem or an emissions chip problem? Can I still drive my car, I take it I will need to go to the dealer to sort this out?

What a pain

[V8V Man]

Had exactly the same issue with 2006 V8 Vantage (August last year), got a lot of help here. It turns out a common issue and I reset mine by using an OBD reader loaned to me. Fault code P0133 "Oxygen Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank1, Sensor1)"

Hopefully, someone close by to you will loan you one or buy one from http://www.amazon.co.uk/CAN-Bus-Trouble-Diagnose-D... which is what Imdid for the next occurance which so far has not happened!

You can still drive the car quite safely.

[stevewushu]

Or it's 1 if 4 lambda sensors gone.
Bamford Rose did this on mine last year to solve the issue.

[bomberh]

stevewushu said:

Or it's 1 if 4 lambda sensors gone.
Bamford Rose did this on mine last year to solve the issue.

Isn't that serious?? Can I still drive my car, if this is the problem??

[bogie]

not really serious - mine has been doing it at random for 6 years now

I have an OBD II reader in the boot to reset it...then it might last 1K, 5K, 10K miles before it comes on again with a message about a sensor being wonky

get it checked out next service, likely they reset it, give it all a clean and it dosnt come on again

however if you reset it and it brings up the same error every day then it might need a new sensor - about £60 one ebay

the only thing is if you need an MOT it wont pass with the MIL on ...I reset mine before last MOT and it hasnt been on since

[stevewushu]

Only a real issue for the MOT.
Shouldn't affect your car under normal circumstances.

[stevewushu]

But like any warning light it's frustrating more so because, if you're like me, would prefer to read the digital speedo!

[bomberh]

bogie said:

not really serious - mine has been doing it at random for 6 years now

I have an OBD II reader in the boot to reset it...then it might last 1K, 5K, 10K miles before it comes on again with a message about a sensor being wonky

get it checked out next service, likely they reset it, give it all a clean and it dosnt come on again

however if you reset it and it brings up the same error every day then it might need a new sensor - about £60 one ebay

I've only had the car 2 weeks, so the dealer can sort it out.However I'm in Wiltshire and the dealer is in Derby!

I have been more concerned about driving the car with this fault.

The OBD II reader might be a good idea, where does it plug into and is it easy to use?

[bomberh]

stevewushu said:

But like any warning light it's frustrating more so because, if you're like me, would prefer to read the digital speedo!

I can remove the message by pressing the read button, but the engine light is still lluminated which I would find very unnerving if you know what I mean?

[Little Donkey]

bomberh said:

I can remove the message by pressing the read button, but the engine light is still lluminated which I would find very unnerving if you know what I mean?

The socket is just under the dash in the drivers footwell to the left of the steering wheel. Easy stuff.....plug it in, read the code and reset, send me £5.00 in the post, job done! Here to help.

[stevewushu]

Or you could spend £90 for a new lambda sensor plus labour charge to have it fitted, plus vat, and Bamford Rose will sort you out.
Assuming that's what it is...

[bomberh]

Little Donkey said:

bomberh said:

I can remove the message by pressing the read button, but the engine light is still lluminated which I would find very unnerving if you know what I mean?

The socket is just under the dash in the drivers footwell to the left of the steering wheel. Easy stuff.....plug it in, read the code and reset, send me £5.00 in the post, job done! Here to help.

I take it the reader will only pick up the displayed faults tell you what they are and enable you to reset them? You haven't got to scroll through loads of codes to find the correct one to reset?

[mikey k]

bomberh said:

stevewushu said:

Or it's 1 if 4 lambda sensors gone.
Bamford Rose did this on mine last year to solve the issue.

Isn't that serious?? Can I still drive my car, if this is the problem??

The O2 sensors are just one of the inputs to the ECU to help control air/fuel ratio
Primary ones are only used for closed loop feedback when you are idling, cruising (low throttle input)
The secondary ones check the cats working OK
It will screw with fuel consumption (like that's an issue in an Aston ) and will fail an MOT

You need to get the code out to be certain what the fault is, primary is more an issue than secondary

[V8V Man]

bomberh said:

I take it the reader will only pick up the displayed faults tell you what they are and enable you to reset them? You haven't got to scroll through loads of codes to find the correct one to reset?

Correct.

As you suggest though as you have only had the car two weeks (main dealer?) then take it to your local AM dealer, if it was from an indie get in touch with them and I would hope they would cover any cost from your local AM dealer to reset. You never know your local dealer might even reset it on goodwill given you are new to AM and I'm sure they'll be looking for your business in the future. Or was that a large piece of streaky bacon flying by

[steveatesh]

V8V Man said:

Had exactly the same issue with 2006 V8 Vantage (August last year), got a lot of help here. It turns out a common issue and I reset mine by using an OBD reader loaned to me. Fault code P0133 "Oxygen Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank1, Sensor1)"

Hopefully, someone close by to you will loan you one or buy one from http://www.amazon.co.uk/CAN-Bus-Trouble-Diagnose-D... which is what Imdid for the next occurance which so far has not happened!

You can still drive the car quite safely.

Forgive my ignorance but does this device identify TPMS faults and allow the fault to be cleared, as well as the engine lights? I'm being quoted £137 plus vat for diagnosis alone cos I have a message saying tpms system error ( and front off side amber light in lit on the unti)

[mikey k]

TPMS and OBD are different

[Tony V12V]

bogie said:

the only thing is if you need an MOT it wont pass with the MIL on ...

Yes it will. Current reg's do not allow a failure to be issued for engine fault light on....its still an advisory item and in its consultation phase. Was meant to be a fail from March/April 2012 - MAY be in this year

[X7LDA]

TADTS.

Very common. Will usually go away on it's own over time. Either that or as above, have it reset. Put some Vmax fuel in it and give it a spirited drive and then let it sit for the night.

Also, no problem driving the car with it whatsoever. Will pass MOT as noted above.

I wouldn't take it to a dealer unless it was still on after a month or so.

[bogie]

Tony V12V said:

bogie said:

the only thing is if you need an MOT it wont pass with the MIL on ...

Yes it will. Current reg's do not allow a failure to be issued for engine fault light on....its still an advisory item and in its consultation phase. Was meant to be a fail from March/April 2012 - MAY be in this year

my mot place was scaring me then last time ....I just reset it anyway before I took it in

they even said it could fail for a TPMS reading ? ...you know, like reporting 2 tyres are down a bit...not like its a big hassle for them to put a bit of air in now is it FFS

[Tony V12V]

bogie said:

Tony V12V said:

bogie said:

the only thing is if you need an MOT it wont pass with the MIL on ...

Yes it will. Current reg's do not allow a failure to be issued for engine fault light on....its still an advisory item and in its consultation phase. Was meant to be a fail from March/April 2012 - MAY be in this year

my mot place was scaring me then last time ....I just reset it anyway before I took it in

they even said it could fail for a TPMS reading ? ...you know, like reporting 2 tyres are down a bit...not like its a big hassle for them to put a bit of air in now is it FFS

They were right to give you advance notice. We were recommend to issue advice notices to customers in late 2011 telling them that MIL lights and TPMS lights were to be a failure item in early 2012... I have it on good information that it should be in April this year... dont hold your breath though...still no OFFICIAL notices issues to testing stations.