Ford SportKa - engine light

AliceBanned

Wonder whether anyone can help - I've tried to book my car into a garage but they can't do anything until this afternoon or maybe tomorrow. I've left it with them.

About a week ago I thought the engine sounded a bit juddery. Then yesterday the engine light started to flash on and off. I have only driven about 5 miles in it since then, and now the engine light is on all the time and the juddering is a bit worse. There was also a quiet whistling sound this morning. It feels like it's lost a tiny bit of power but not a lot. It is the 2003 model (1.6L).

I bought it a year ago and it has been regularly serviced, but I don't have full details of each service. This is the first service it's had since I bought it - it was due one and I've done about 8000 miles since I bought it. When it had the MOT in January the guy said it was a "great little car":).

I suppose I have to wait until the garage get back to me but I was hoping to go away on Sunday for a few days, and am just in the process of buying a flat, so not great timing if it's anything major. thanks.

AliceBanned

I've had a call from the garage, htc leads or something? Nothing major and he said that they wear out on the Ka usually. Thanks, no help needed now.:)

forgotmyname

Have you actually had it serviced as well? Taking it in to repair a fault is not a service.

They wont have changed the oil and filters or checked the brakes, replaced the plugs, Checked the coolant... etc...

AliceBanned

I know that - I asked for them to repair the fault and told them it needed 10,000 mile service, which they have done.

The only problem is, although it drives much better, the engine warning light is still on!! They told me to bring it back first thing on Mon and they will check. Such a pain as I was going away tomorrow, to visit relatives so i can go on Monday instead, but hope they sort it out.

I think it's too risk to continue driving it with the engine light on. ?? The diagnostics came up with replace leads and ignition coil. They have replaced the oil filter and oil change. It does feel loads better to drive, but annoying that it's not fully fixed.

I think I'm going to be going out tonight - about 40 miles round trip.

AliceBanned

ps the plugs are ok - replaced at last service.

spacey2012

turn the ignition on and off 25 times and see if it goes out

AliceBanned

Thanks. I'll go and try it now.:)

AliceBanned

Light still on.

spacey2012

It still has a fault then, relying on the code reader is never a good method, it is often a sympathy code of something else failing.
They should have taken all 4 plugs out and done an inspection anyway, if they have not and used assumption then it may be better to use another garage.
It is more likely the oxygen sensor is playin up.

AliceBanned

Well I've paid them now for the diagnostics so I'm going to get them to find out what's wrong.

I'm really annoyed - £320. they have a lot of good feedback online so I'll threaten them with bad feedback if they don't sort it out - well genuine feedback.:(. Just shows customer reviews don't necessarily count for much.

AliceBanned

spacey2012 wrote: »

It still has a fault then, relying on the code reader is never a good method, it is often a sympathy code of something else failing.
They should have taken all 4 plugs out and done an inspection anyway, if they have not and used assumption then it may be better to use another garage.
It is more likely the oxygen sensor is playin up.

As long as they sort it and it's minor and I'm not bothered, but I won't go back there. Would the oxygen sensor cost me much more?