Engine Warning Light

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:48 am

Hi,

I'm fairly new to the Elise and have a question about the engine warning light. Basically why does it come on and what should i do about it? I didn't get a manual with the car so sorry if this question is a bit lame. It's just had an A service last weekend so i can't imagine there's a real drama but i'm looking for someone to put my mind at rest.

Cheers a lot.

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:34 am

Hi Ron,

When is it coming on, and are there any 'symtons' with it?

Or phone Dan

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:43 am

Welcome!

Erm, S2 engine management lights seem to come on when they feel like it and mean anything from I need a hug to I'm about to die. Where did you get it serviced and is it under wanranty?

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:01 am

Cheers for the welcome lads. I think you're right. It just needed a hug, which i gave it. The lights gone off now and all is well. There were no symptoms but i kept it under 3000 anyway because i'm still new to eliseisms and i panick at everything! I'm getting better though.

It's a bit like having a really fit girlfriend who can be high maintenance at times.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:07 am

I think Shug described it best: "fur coat but no knickers...."

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:22 pm

Ok - Engine management lights - What year is the car?

early S2's have 2 "engine managemet lights" - one the MIL which illuminates when there's a general malfunction (doubles up as the shiftlight & alarm in the middle of speedo) and the engine management one which is the picture of an engine on the bank of "idiot" lights.

Without knowing which one came on (and I'm guessing it was the one with the picture) you can't really tell what the problem was.

Of course this is providing you have a "stack" display - if you have a "shorrock" then I think it's different.

sorry to be of a great deal of help - but more info is required.

Mac

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:32 pm

Thanks Mac,

It a 2002 Elise S with a Stack display and it's the light with the picture of an engine and lightning bolt in the idiot bank.

It's only happened twice but it makes me nervous because i don't know the reason for it (apart from the needing a hug thing, that i can understand)

Ron

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:50 pm

that indicates a misfire.

Could be needing a new set of sparks (I know you've been to Dan's so it's unlikely but wouldn't be the first time a faulty plug as made it into the package) or one/both of the coils are failing - or one/both of the leads.

HTH

Mac

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:04 pm

Cheers,

I'll keep my eye on it...

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:16 pm

mac wrote:that indicates a misfire.

Mac

Mac, doesn't it just indicate MIL in general - a whole host of possible symptoms and causes - or is that a different light on the display?

Cheers,
Robin

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:52 pm

Robin, as far as I know (based on a bit of previous experience and the workshop manual) that every other fault in the system illuminates the MIL (shift/alarm light) but only a misfire will light the engine warning light (based on Stack equiped cars)

Cheers

Mac

robin · Post by **robin** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:50 am

mac wrote:Robin, as far as I know (based on a bit of previous experience and the workshop manual) that every other fault in the system illuminates the MIL (shift/alarm light) but only a misfire will light the engine warning light (based on Stack equiped cars)

Cheers

Mac

I think you have the MIL and alarm lights confused. The orange light with the picture of the engine and lightening bolt is the MIL, the red light is just what you say, shift/alarm tell tale.

When I got EGOR (2003 S2) from Gareth the orange light was on because he had run it without cat/rear lambda whilst changing back from de-cat to cat or something like that. Happened to be at MMC getting the rad changed a few days later, plugged in scanner, read back the lambda-fault code, cleared the orange light. The red light in the rev counter operated as usual.

Similarly my original S2 engine had an intermittent cam position sensor (which is only used at start up) failure and this caused the orange light to come on. Again it was cleared by using the scanner. Again the red light operated as usual.

So in my experience at least the orange engine warning/MIL comes on for all sensor related faults, not just misfires.

The red light comes on as alarm tell tale and shift up light - I didn't think it performed any other function (other than perhaps it will come on at lower RPM when the ECU has imposed a lower rev limit).

Cheers,
Robin

james · Post by **james** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:54 am

Does the S2 (2002 111) have a shift light?

Obviously if I have to ask and the answer is yes then Im just asking for a friend, you know

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:40 am

LOL.

Assuming you own one, you really need to find the answer to that by practical experiment

The little LED that blinks at you when the alarm is on will light up solid when you get close to the rev limiter.

Cheers,
Robin

Novice Racer · Post by **Novice Racer** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:45 am

Robin/Mac

The MIL light came on in my 2002 S2 Elise yesterday morning after about 1 min. It was around 0800 and really cold and icy.

I had planned to visit MMC after trying the usual electrics on/off 5-6 times after I arrived at work in an attempt to get the MIL to go out.

However, after later in the day - after another run across town in the afternoon with the light illuminated and parking the car for 2 hours - the light suddenly was out when I re-started the car.

Any suggestions?

Might this have been a misfire as a result of the cold? I had the same light on (in the warm in the summer this year ) and MMC told me I had had a no.3 cylinder misfire, but I have had no problems since.

The MIL bulb still works as the light comes on momentarily in the usual way when the engine is first turned over.

Novice