Engine Light

[Hinckley65]

I have been on holiday for two weeks and the car has stood in the rd, last night on a short drive the engine light came on- big sign in the middle and caution sign along with a small sign on the LHS. It has only done 70K ish - any ideas? I am told the garage can plug their kit in and check- is that correct?

[Kremmen]

Not enough detail to form an opinion

Can you get a photo of the warning symbols or look them up in the manual

[jasonevans]

If the engine light is on it can be a number of things. You really need to plug it into a OBD reader to see what the fault code is and go from there.

[Hinckley65]

I took it to a garage who cleared the fault but told me it is the upper (secondary) O2 sensor . They are calling me later today with a quote- the question will be, is it worth doing if it's not causing problems. I am contemplating changing next March when I take a pension lump sum. Also wondering about what to buy.

[TnTkr]

Replacing an O2-sensor is not a big thing. Neither the part nor work. I'd say it's defenitely worth doing. It may get worse in that sense, that you can not hide the fault when selling the car, and then it reduces the price you get.

Besides I am not sure which O2-sensor you actually use, but if it is the one before the cat, then it may lead to damage, which requires replacing the cat. And then it is much more expensive. In my terminology that sensor would be upper and it is primary because it gives the input to fuel injection. The one after the cat is secondary and exists only to verify the system works. Older cars had only the one before the cat.

[Keekster71]

I would replace the O2 sensor with a good quality one, such as blueprint.  I changed mine on my last Jazz, and it fixed the problem.  As said above, the secondary sensor is just to check the system is working, it doesn't affect the mixture.

[vandals01]

Personally, when it comes to O2 sensors on Japanese car, it will have to be NGK or Denso.

The purpose of the Secondary O2 sensor is to monitor CAT's efficiency.  Therefore, it doesn't daily driving as such.  However, it is a MOT requirement item.  So by it not functioning, you are no different from driving without MOT.  (Obviously, no one will go up to your car to check unless you book it in for MOT.  But still...)

Just be extra careful (not get involve in accident) you should be fine.  Or should it happen, blame it on the accident itself.