Regarding the check engine light that won't go off...

[natsukin]

Nice to meet you. I drive an i4 in Japan. I'd like to ask someone knowledgeable about this. I changed the muffler to a GRP titanium muffler and catalyst to a GRP one. After driving a little, the engine check light came on. I looked at past threads on this site and tried various things, but it won't go away. How can I make it go away? It doesn't affect driving. Thank you in advance.

 

[geoffbland]

I have read online about ones buying OBD reader to clear these codes and a mate does have one at his work but will get him to do this void my warranty?

Would I be better taking a trip to the dealer to get them to sort it instead.

No, resetting the codes will not void the warranty. But check what the codes are - as if something is a real problem and you do then drive the car knowing this then you could void the warranty.
Note a low battery can cause a lot of issues - was your car on a trickle for those 2 weeks.

 

[Luminated67]

No, resetting the codes will not void the warranty. But check what the codes are - as if something is a real problem and you do then drive the car knowing this then you could void the warranty.
Note a low battery can cause a lot of issues - was your car on a trickle for those 2 weeks.

No on a trickle charger yet, though I have one coming from Amazon this week as the car will be use sparingly rather than daily.

So I can get him to connect it and read the code, does the manual list the common codes or is there somewhere online that lists them so I can check and see which it is?

 

[geoffbland]

No on a trickle charger yet, though I have one coming from Amazon this week as the car will be use sparingly rather than daily.

So I can get him to connect it and read the code, does the manual list the common codes or is there somewhere online that lists them so I can check and see which it is?

It depends on the unit. Some expensive readers do explain the codes in detail but most you can look up online.
Unfortunately, ODB2 which was meant to be an open system, has devolved a bit by greedy manufacturers using custom propriety codes and locking `special` codes and unlocks behind paywalls.
But if it is a common issue then you should be OK. If you can clear a code and it does not come back after some driving you are usually OK. Always worth recording the codes and speaking to a dealer about them though even if they get cleared OK.
I also should mention - the later software patches to the Emira have fixed some spurious codes coming up too. Like one a race-condition with the subsystems in the car at start up (U0121 I think came up with this one).

 

[Luminated67]

When I get him to connect it up sometime next week I will post the code and see from you guys whether it’s to be cleared or taken to the dealer. Hopefully it’s the former.

 

[Nelumbo nucifera]

New Erima owner, bought secondhand but I jumped in it yesterday after it being sat in the garage a fortnight and it’s came up with the engine light but no warnings. We changed the number plates the day before that but never drove it and the light won’t go off. I have read online about ones buying OBD reader to clear these codes and a mate does have one at his work but will get him to do this void my warranty?

Would I be better taking a trip to the dealer to get them to sort it instead.

Many Owners, myself included, do have an OBD reader that does cancel out faults (if fixable). However, if you have to travel to your mate’s house a similar distance to your nearest agent and the agent can do it ‘on the spot’, for peace of mind you may choose that option. At least they and you will have a record of the fault occurring, should it happen again. They should not charge for cancelling/fixing a code fault since you still are under warranty.

 

[Luminated67]

Many Owners, myself included, do have an OBD reader that does cancel out faults (if fixable). However, if you have to travel to your mate’s house a similar distance to your nearest agent and the agent can do it ‘on the spot’, for peace of mind you may choose that option. At least they and you will have a record of the fault occurring, should it happen again. They should not charge for cancelling/fixing a code fault since you still are under warranty.

The mate lives 5 mins away and will be able to call over after work, it’s me that will delay this as I’m the one working late the next three nights, as for the dealer they are about a one hour and twenty minute round trip plus their time connecting and sorting. If I leave till the dealer it will probably be in a fortnights time because of work, no biggie either way and as there’s no actual warnings it must be something very minor and not something to stop using the car.

 

[Beachbum]

New Erima owner, bought secondhand but I jumped in it yesterday after it being sat in the garage a fortnight and it’s came up with the engine light but no warnings. We changed the number plates the day before that but never drove it and the light won’t go off. I have read online about ones buying OBD reader to clear these codes and a mate does have one at his work but will get him to do this void my warranty?

Would I be better taking a trip to the dealer to get them to sort it instead.

If a dealer is close by, it certainly wouldnt hurt to get them to do it. They can check what caused at the same time

 

[Nelumbo nucifera]

The mate lives 5 mins away and will be able to call over after work, it’s me that will delay this as I’m the one working late the next three nights, as for the dealer they are about a one hour and twenty minute round trip plus their time connecting and sorting. If I leave till the dealer it will probably be in a fortnights time because of work, no biggie either way and as there’s no actual warnings it must be something very minor and not something to stop using the car.

Geoffbland’s comment above is worth following, since you are a considerable distance from your dealer. But important is that trickle charger as Geoff also notes.

 

[Luminated67]

Geoffbland’s comment above is worth following, since you are a considerable distance from your dealer. But important is that trickle charger as Geoff also notes.

I grabbed the brother’s trickle charger and he can take mine when it comes, it’s now fitted and working away.

Hopefully by Wednesday or Thursday I’ll get the mate round with his one from work and we will see what codes it throws up and check to see if they are of any concern. Worst case is I make a trip to the dealers as the car is still got more than two years of warranty left.

 

[Luminated67]

With the trickle charger now on the battery, if low voltage was the problem would the engine light go out when back to full charge?

 

[geoffbland]

With the trickle charger now on the battery, if low voltage was the problem would the engine light go out when back to full charge?

You would probably still have to clear the codes before the engine light goes out. But if they were caused by a low battery, having it charged up all the time on the trickle charger will stop them coming back.

 

[Luminated67]

His coming round tomorrow evening so a quick question as to what codes not to worry about and just clear, like low voltage I know is one I can clear but there must be others which the Emira throws up that don’t need a trip to the dealer.

Also is there a link to a list of codes that I can check to see what they are.

 

[geoffbland]

His coming round tomorrow evening so a quick question as to what codes not to worry about and just clear, like low voltage I know is one I can clear but there must be others which the Emira throws up that don’t need a trip to the dealer.

Also is there a link to a list of codes that I can check to see what they are.

There's literally 1,000s of codes - impossible to say which would need a trip to the dealer. But any code you get can be looked up online.
It's your judgement call if any need a trip to the dealer - if in any doubt call your dealer about them, typically for most if you can turn them off and they don't come back after a short drive it is probably OK. Regardless, make a note of them all to inform the dealer of them at next service.

 

[Luminated67]

There's literally 1,000s of codes - impossible to say which would need a trip to the dealer. But any code you get can be looked up online.
It's your judgement call if any need a trip to the dealer - if in any doubt call your dealer about them, typically for most if you can turn them off and they don't come back after a short drive it is probably OK. Regardless, make a note of them all to inform the dealer of them at next service.

OK, I will take a note of all codes and post on here what they are as this is my first Lotus so don’t know what is minor and what needs looked at by the dealer. Fingers crossed all minor.

Also meant to add a quick question, do I need to unplug the trickle charger before doing the OBD reading and it’s only the ignition on and not the engine?

 

[geoffbland]

Also meant to add a quick question, do I need to unplug the trickle charger before doing the OBD reading and it’s only the ignition on and not the engine?

This is a simple decent guide, it's pretty simple you can't go wrong.

 

[Luminated67]

This is a simple decent guide, it's pretty simple you can't go wrong.

He came up at lunch time and we tried it but it wouldn’t read the OBD.