Failed engine management lights
My 2005 Rover 45 has two engine malfunction light indicators, one on the left corner of the instrument panel and one in the centre. The top one is a plain profile, while the centre one has an exclamation symbol on it. Last Tuesday, I started the car and the centre one remained illuminated. I connected my code reader and it recorded no faults. There is no reference to it in the car manual and Haynes confuses it with glow plug indication. The car starts and drives OK.
The car was fitted with a new battery two weeks ago (electrical power was not lost as a temporary booster was used, but the light remains on. I have not tried any long runs as I am worried about doing damage. What could be the problem? I am concerned about just changing parts to solve it by process of elimination as this could be very expensive. David Jones As you say, the dash has two engine warning lights which are displayed when the ignition is first turned on; one is the standard EML and the other has an exclamation mark in the centre. The first light shows that a malfunction has occurred in the engine, possibly due to a faulty sensor or connection. The second light is also used as a bulb check warning indicator, illuminating if a problem occurs while driving; when this light displays, the engine will normally go into ‘limp-home’ or reduced power mode.
As you have confirmed that the engine is driving perfectly well, I would first check the operation of the bulbs and the brake light switch. If no fault can be found here, then the system will need to be read with a T4 code reader. If the light remains lit there will be a code but this may not be accessible with an EOBD code reader. Although your Rover is Eobd-compliant, this does not mean that all codes are accessible using the EOBD reader. The Rover MEMS (Modular Engine Management System) used in tandem with the EOBD system on later vehicles will retain some codes that the EOBD system will not see. A feature on the MEMS diagnostic system is available in the May 2016 edition of