Engine Auto-Diag Light

[lau]

My car had been out in the sun all day when this happened. Was driving out my drive, felt a little 'shaky'to drive, especially at lower revs, but seemed okay. I only just got the car (less than a week ago) and I've driven it three times so I thought it might just be me, as it's sort of done that before when I've reversed and didn't seem to rev enough). After 20 seconds, the engine auto-diagnosis light came on. I pulled over soon after, turned the car on and off and it stayed on. 

Fortunately I was only taking someone for a quick ride to show them my car so I turned around and went home. As I was driving home (and this was a minute or two of driving) the water temperature light shot up from zero bars to one bar to three bars (it skipped the second bar altogether). What could the problem be?

 

Also some quick points:

• Car is 53 reg and I'm second owner
• When I brought it it was fully service,had been recently MOTed and had the cam belt replaced
• It has 107k on the clock
• Oil/water levels were fine
• I noticed there was something that looked like oil on parts of the engine assembly, but it could have been melted grease? (there were no drips on the floor)

Is it something that might go away? Or should I take it back to my dealer? It came with a month warranty, but the garage is 40 mins drive away and if it's a serious problem I don't know if it will make it

Edited June 16, 2013 by lau

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

Definately take the car back to the dealer and phone as soon as you can before doing so. The engine light coming on could be anything to do with the engine and only a diagnostic check will tell you what it could be. It is unlikely to go on its own without the fault being repaired and depending on what it is could cost a few £100 for the parts.

 

If the temperature has 6 bars max then it is probably like our C3, that would normally be on 3 bars when warmed up and sometimes the second bar and third would light up together. If so, this is probably normal and nothing to do with the engine light. If the second bar does not light at all, then this needs looking at.

 

Make sure everything else on the car works asap since a 1 month warranty is not long.