Plenty of fuel in the tank. Some plonkers habitually run their cars with next to nothing in the tank and that can cause what you describe for a number of reasons. You may not do this but previous owners may have and it's causing problems now.

You need to read the code(s) lodged in the ECU. OK to drive the car if light is on continuously. Do not drive if it flashes all the time. It could be something as simple as a bad spark plug or partially blocked fuel filter.

For about 20 quid, you can buy a code reader and with that you can find out what is wrong with your car. There are in fact 100s of codes. It could be 20 quid well spent. To get a garage to do the same job once will almost certainly cost more than a OBDII ( On Board Diagnostics II reader) like this one which can pay for itself the first time you use it and time and again on friends' cars etc.

OBDII FAULT CODE READER

When you've read the codes and fixed the fault of faults, you can clear the Engine Light with these tools.

Here's mine in action a while back :~

Here's the port to plug the reader into. It's behind the Centre Consol on most later Rovers near the clutch pedal.

My reader does NOT work on year 2000 or earlier Rovers. Other readers can cope with these.
.

 

The MIL will only flash in cases involving misfire - where the system is worried about catalyst damage.

A misfire issue could be coils but new plugs are a good idea..

 

Cheers for the replies guys. I will probably get a code reader on payday. Do you know if I will have to get one to clear the light? I know that on my mk4 golf lights would never turn themselves off, I would always have to get them cleared!

 

Also..

Oh, and did the light turn itself off or did you have to clear it? Cheers.

Yes, the one in my picture will clear the light but, it will reappear if the problem is not fixed of course.

Get a cheap ELM OBD2 reader off ebay!

They do all of what the one above does, but more...

You need to plug it into a laptop, but comes in handy way more often than it should haha

I use the software Digimoto on my laptop to plug into cars

Yes, the laptop versions have a wider application but, you can carry the one in my picture in your pocket so can be used in just about any location without the need to hump a laptop about. Both systems have their advantages. The pictured one comes with an Easy-to-Follow Pocket Sized Instruction Manual ( also a CD ) and a list of all the various error codes ~ there are a lot of them!

A few quid well spent in my opinion. I have both types.
..

 

Mine has done this a couple of times. Once was when the CAT had failed and the other was crap down the plugholes causing the spark to short. Took the plug leads off and blew out the plug holes with an air gun. I then took the plugs out and cleaned them. Cheap, easy and worth a try.

 

I'll try that after work today mate! Good stuff. Im absolutley broke until either the end of the month or when the golf sells!

 

Oh, and did the light turn itself off or did you have to clear it? Cheers.

 

Yes it cleared itself on both counts. When I cleaned the plug holes it went off straight away however after changing the cat it took a little longer.
I was told on here IIRC that it will take approx 10 starts with no faults before the light goes out. I can't verify that number but after the CAT change it took a good few starts.

 

Get a cheap ELM OBD2 reader off ebay!

They do all of what the one above does, but more...

You need to plug it into a laptop, but comes in handy way more often than it should haha

I use the software Digimoto on my laptop to plug into cars

 

Well, I got home from work, started the car - no MIL?! I took it for a drive, slight judder but not as bad as last night. I removed the plugs and they are knackered and I cant afford any until payday but I gave them a good clean with a wire brush and the car seems to be running good now - very light misfire at low revs but nothing to worry about. So I guess it was/is the plugs, at least its an easy fix. Cheers for the help.

Oh, I forgot, I borrowed a mates OBD thing and it bought up the code P0301 but we couldnt find the book so can anyone help me with that code?

I erased it and will check tomorrow to see if it comes back or not.

This is 4 days straight now without breaking down! Very happy haha.:lol:

 

Oh, I forgot, I borrowed a mates OBD thing and it bought up the code P0301 but we couldnt find the book so can anyone help me with that code?

The P0300 series of codes are misfire related.

P0301 CYLINDER 1 MISFIRE DETECTED

If you ever get a P0312 Code, there's a misfire on your V12 on No. 12 Cylinder...
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Don't forget... To use the Platinum tipped spark plugs! around £30 a set... Dont use cheap sh** lol x

 

I replaced the plugs on mine when I bought it, don't think cheap spark plugs exist any more.

Eeeee I remember when tha could buy'em fora fiver and still have enough left for chips on way 'ome.

 

If you have an android device buy a cheap (less than a tenner) bluetooth OBDII reader and download Torque from the market. Its can read fault codes and also prove live engine data. It can also use the gps and accelerometers in the phone to combine it with ecu data and give you mpg ratings etc......

 

Thinking about that myself. Last time I looked they were about £25 on Fleabay. Do have any links?

 

engine managment lights come on

will a leek in my steering pump cause my light to come on

 

No.There are no sensors reading the power steering system.