Engine Management Light

luisabel9090

Junior Member
Messages
30
Hello everyone,

Hope you are safe and away from the virus.

Need some advice based on your experience or knowledge.

My 3200 started well last week after being 7 months under a blue car cover. To make things worse, in the last two and a half years she has been driven only for 1800 kms, over 1100 miles.

I believe the lack of exercise is the reason behind a yellow light showing on the dashboard, the “engine managment light”.

Since the specialist taking care of the car is in Madrid, almost a hundred miles away, and the interior trim badly stands the high summer temperatures , I would like to know if any enthusiast here has had already such experience, and how it was solved.

I feel lazy after spending half a year abroad, and if there is a way I can avoid the drive to Madrid I will be very happy to know, and grateful as well.

Thank you very much in advance.
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
You need to find a way of reading the error? What year is your car? The early ones are harder to read.
Without a code it's really tough to tell what it could be, there is long list.
I presume it starts? Does it lack power? If it lacks power then it's in limp home mode and that narrows down the list a bit.
Is the battery ok? I would make sure the battery is good and try starting it a few times and see if it clears.

Sent from my SM-A207F using Tapatalk
 

Devonboy

Member
Messages
1,289
Buy yourself a reader (like a foxwell 520/30) and you can see the issue and reset the light if you are satisfied. Adds to your garage equipment - I threw my EML light through a faulty wing mirror temp sensor - quickly diagnosed and reset
 

luisabel9090

Junior Member
Messages
30
Thanks for your replys.

The car is 2001 Auto. Starts but after the light came on the engine works in a degraded mode so down on power.

Battery is OK since I always disconnect if the car is not going to be used.

Tempted to buy a reader, but not confident in my skills about using it.

My technical knowledge goes little further than changing a wheel.

I was thinking on checking engine breakers, but no reference found on the web.
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
If its 2001 it will have a STANDARD ODBII port, and any cheap reader off amazon or Ebay will work,
There are lists of standard codes on internet. It's easy. Get one it's a really essential tool for 3200

Sent from my SM-A207F using Tapatalk
 

Devonboy

Member
Messages
1,289
Thanks for your replys.

The car is 2001 Auto. Starts but after the light came on the engine works in a degraded mode so down on power.

Battery is OK since I always disconnect if the car is not going to be used.

Tempted to buy a reader, but not confident in my skills about using it.

My technical knowledge goes little further than changing a wheel.

I was thinking on checking engine breakers, but no reference found on the web.

nor am I - its easy - plug it in, scan codes, and then read the fault
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Get the battery fully charged and ideally checked anyway. Even a disconnected battery can degrade and these cars misbehave on low voltage battery.
Being a 3200 do the obligatory throttle pot reset - several times.
Oh......... drive the car every day for a week and report back. took months for my 3200 to settle down after buying. My theory is these cars are like stroppy mistress and play up if when ignored for too long. Get things nice and warmed up with sensitive inputs until fully awake, then give it a good work out.
 

luisabel9090

Junior Member
Messages
30
Hello everyone.

Found some courage and have bought the referred device.

May I ask now where in the 3200 should this be plugged in?

Thank you!
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
14,994
Tbh, if there isn’t an engine check light on in a 3200 there is something wrong with it The car is merely saying hello in the only way it knows how, so embrace it’s good will, give it a thrash and one of two things will happen; either the light goes out or the engine explodes. Once you find that out you can proceed accordingly and put a decent (4200) engine in it. Good luck.
 

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,930
Hello everyone.

Found some courage and have bought the referred device.

May I ask now where in the 3200 should this be plugged in?

Thank you!

On a uk car its at knee height to the right of the steering wheel. Under the panel you should find some fabric that moves out of the way and its behind that. You may need a torch to find it the first time.
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
yes once you find it once you can usually find it without looking under the dash, with the 3200 you do it so often it becomes second nature :) . it uses a KWP 2000 protocol to communicate and your reader should show you which protocol its trying to connect on. first time i would get a torch and look up from the footwell to find it.
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
yes once you find it once you can usually find it without looking under the dash, with the 3200 you do it so often it becomes second nature :) . it uses a KWP 2000 protocol to communicate and your reader should show you which protocol its trying to connect on. first time i would get a torch and look up from the footwell to find it.
Just leave it connected!
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Take the plugs out and clean or replace them. With lack of use they corrode. It’s a cheap and simple job to do.
 

luisabel9090

Junior Member
Messages
30
Thanks for your comments.
As expected bearing in mind my skills, I have not been able to find it.
Maybe after I receive the device, the shape of the plug will help.
My car is LHD.

Regards.
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
We could do with an owner with a LHD car with an ODBII connector fitted to come along and tell us where it is really. Anyone?