Car Sold To Me With BLACK STICKER On Dash

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vroom3 wrote: »

As the saying goes ...it takes allsorts!!

I bet that was quite a revelation when mr. smartiepants here pointed it out.

eddi

pendulum wrote: »

If you read my post you may actually learn something. The lights come on at ignition then go out to enable a driver to check they are working. Thus, a light covered up with tape will never come on, which would indicate a problem. The meaning of each light is found in the manual.

If you've just passed your test and you're not technically minded about cars how would you know to find out about a light in the manual that you don't know is there because it's been taped over from the back by a previous owner in a dodgy, hiding something manner??

There's very often lots of lights that never come on because they're either (hopefully) not warning of anything or the car doesn't include the option the light relates to so why would the OP know there was anything wrong to begin with?

pendulum

eddi wrote: »

If you've just passed your test and you're not technically minded about cars...

She's had the car two years and you're supposed to familiarise yourself with a car before you drive it for the first time. Anyway, you've missed the point in #11.

puddy

i agree that when you get any new car, whether its your first car or not, to sit and read the manual, learn what the lights are for and what they mean, BUT not all the dash lights come on during ignition, some warning lights only come on if there is a problem, therefore she would not have noticed it wasnt lighting up

however, i would still have sat with the manual (as i did for my own car) and looked to check that every thing was there, you can still see the symbols even if they are not lighting up, then she would have spotted that she couldnt see that symbol

mikey72

You mean the manual with all the options for all the variants of the car?

I'd better complain, because the eps light, glow plug light, automatic headlight adjuster warning, front fog lights, automatic transmission, seat occupancy, traction control, air quality, have never come on on mine. The trip computer looks just like a clock as well, all the time.

Admittedly, I bought it secondhand, so these options may well not be there, but they're all in the book.

Like the op, all the lights go off when I start mine, what more can she do?

eddi

pendulum wrote: »

She's had the car two years and you're supposed to familiarise yourself with a car before you drive it for the first time. Anyway, you've missed the point in #11.

No I don't think I did .... familiarising yourself with your new car doesn't necessarily mean whipping out the manual for everyone. I wholeheartedly agree people should know more about their cars but to a great deal of people a car manual may as well be written in a different language so why even bother getting out of the glove box and attempting to fathom out just what applies and what doesn't? You learn to drive then you familiarise yourself with where the relevant switches, stalks and levers are, how to adjust your seat and mirrors, how to fill it with fuel and just maybe how to open the bonnet and do your screenwash and that's probably about it.

Whether the OP had the car for 2 years or 2 days is neither here nor there since the light in question has been taped over from behind for the whole time in an effort to conceal a problem.

s_b

eddi wrote: »

No I don't think I did .... familiarising yourself with your new car doesn't necessarily mean whipping out the manual for everyone. I wholeheartedly agree people should know more about their cars but to a great deal of people a car manual may as well be written in a different language so why even bother getting out of the glove box and attempting to fathom out just what applies and what doesn't? You learn to drive then you familiarise yourself with where the relevant switches, stalks and levers are, how to adjust your seat and mirrors, how to fill it with fuel and just maybe how to open the bonnet and do your screenwash and that's probably about it.

Whether the OP had the car for 2 years or 2 days is neither here nor there since the light in question has been taped over from behind for the whole time in an effort to conceal a problem.

you seriously need to reassess whether you should be driving before you get in an unfamiliar car because its probably you that put your wipers on as you cut across my bow last week

as to all the other people who dont know what lights light up on the dashboard i also seriously suggest you stop driving now and familiarise yourself with your manufacturers handbook as already advised

these lights are called idiot lights for a reason remember and if you dont know what an engine management light is in 2012 then you also dont know how to check your tyre pressures
i knew the standards on our roads had fallen but im amazed people posting on a thread devoted to transport dont know what this light is for, or indeed know that its the first sign you have an engine problem,maybe this is why rogue garages tell you its your ecu mate and pull your pants down?


i still fail to understand why the garage last year failed to tell the OP that the engine management light was blanked out ?or is it more the fact they blanked it out emptied her purse and sent her on her way because she had children in the car? remember:D


discuss

mikey72

Far more likely it was a dodgy car dealer.

Vote

photome

mikey72 wrote: »

Far more likely it was a dodgy car dealer.

Vote

YES


Is there really any of those on here still?

I thought you had scared them all away

puddy

mikey72 wrote: »

You mean the manual with all the options for all the variants of the car?

I'd better complain, because the eps light, glow plug light, automatic headlight adjuster warning, front fog lights, automatic transmission, seat occupancy, traction control, air quality, have never come on on mine. The trip computer looks just like a clock as well, all the time.

Admittedly, I bought it secondhand, so these options may well not be there, but they're all in the book.

Like the op, all the lights go off when I start mine, what more can she do?

true, but some warning lights are universal to that make of car, no matter how many variants of it there are and others are as you say specific to the level of car you have, the manual will state this (well it does in mine)