What Is An Engine Management Light?
The engine management light is connected to the vehicles main computer, which is called the engine control unit (ECU). It records information from various sensors located around the engine and exhaust system. If these sensors report any incorrect data, the ECU will trigger the engine warning light to come on. If your engine management light comes on, it can be sometimes due to one specific fault, or it can be because of multiple faults. Our brand trained technicians are familiar with identifying and rectifying faults on the very latest, and previous engine management systems. If your engine management light is on, it is important to have the issue investigated as soon as possible.
What Does An Engine Management Warning Light Look Like?
The engine management warning light symbol appears visually like a cross section of an engine, normally it is an amber colour but may also be coloured red. In normal operation, it is designed to come on with the ignition switched on, then go off within a few seconds after the engine has started. For a diesel car, glow plug warning lights normally indicate that the glow plugs are on during a cold start. However, if the glow plug warning light is on during normal driving, this may indicate an issue with the engine management system, and can be an indicator for an active function such as limp home mode.
Why Is My Engine Management Light On?
The engine management light is one of a number of warning lights that is set within the instrument cluster on your vehicle dashboard. The engine management warning light (check engine light) helps alert you of any potential problems with your engine.
Is It Ok To Drive My Vehicle With An Engine Management Light On?
If your vehicle appears to be running normally, but the engine management light is on, a general rule of thumb is that it is safe to continue driving a short distance, for example to a garage or home. But if your engine is misfiring (running rough), and the engine management light may also be flashing or constantly on, then it is not advised to continue driving and seek recovery of the vehicle. If you continue driving, this could cause additional damage to the engine and its components, in turn leading to more costly repairs. In some circumstances the engine management light or glow plug light may flash without the engine misfiring (running rough), and may have reduced power. This could indicate a limp home mode is active which is described below.
Why Is My Vehicle In Limp Mode?
If your engine management light is on, your vehicle could enter a limp home mode. This is a function of the ECU, which intentionally limits the performance of your engine to allow you to continue driving for as short a distance as possible, and in such a way which is less probable to cause further damage to your engine. Symptoms of limp mode could include sluggish acceleration, a top speed between 35-45 mph, RPM limited to less than 3,000 or an illuminated engine management light.
Will An Engine Management Light Fail The MOT?
Unfortunately, if your vehicle has any warning lights on, including the engine management light, it’s likely to fail its MOT. The good news is that at Volks Autos, our skilled technicians can diagnose the issue and perform the necessary repairs to ensure your car passes this important annual test.
Expert EML Diagnostic And Repairs For Your German Vehicle
Located in Sutton, Surrey, Volks Autos specialises in German vehicles, including Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, and VW Commercial vehicles. We have particular expertise in diagnosing engine management light (EML) faults. Our skilled technicians use dealer-level diagnostic equipment and tooling, including ODIS—Offboard Diagnostic Information System, to identify the cause of your EML warning light accurately. This advanced software allows us to link diagnostic plans with workshop manuals, wiring diagrams, and more, ensuring we efficiently diagnose and resolve issues.
If you have a fault needing investigation, simply book online or contact our service team.
