For cars, vans and motorhomes

Engine warning light on? What it means and what to do now

Is the engine warning light a steady orange and does the car drive normally? Then you usually do not need to stop straight away. Is the light flashing, or is a red warning light on? Then stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine.

We read the fault codes and look for the cause. You hear in advance what the diagnosis costs. For a repair, you get a quote first.

Rotterdam family business since 1979  |  4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews

The short answer

If the engine warning light is a steady orange and the car drives normally, you can usually drive carefully to a garage. If the light is flashing or a red warning light is on, stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. Autobedrijf Willemsbrug at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde reads the fault and looks for the cause. You hear in advance what the diagnosis costs, and a repair only goes ahead once you agree.

Jump to: which light do you see · causes · booking · warning light and APK (MOT) · costs · directions · frequently asked questions

Which light do you see? How serious it can be

The colour of the light and what it does tell you together how quickly you need to act. Use this overview as a first guide.

What you see What it may mean What to do
Orange, steady There is a fault in the engine management or the emissions system. Only keep driving if the car drives normally. Keep your speed down and have the fault read soon.
Orange, flashing This can point to a serious fault in the ignition or combustion. Unburnt fuel can damage the catalytic converter. Stop as soon as it is safe, switch off the engine and have the car brought to us.
Red warning light This can point to a serious problem, for example with the oil pressure or the engine temperature. Stop as soon as it is safe, switch off the engine and check the owner’s manual.
The light went out by itself The fault may have been temporary. Fault codes or other data may still be stored. Have the codes read anyway, especially if the light comes back.
Not sure what your car is doing? We are happy to help: call +31 10 479 00 00

Is the car losing power, can you smell fuel or is the engine running unevenly? Then stop safely, even if the light is steady.

Reading the codes is the start. Finding the cause is the real work.

The engine warning light tells you that the car has stored a fault. It does not say what the cause is. The fault code only points you in a direction. Common causes are:

  • a fuel cap that was not closed properly
  • a faulty lambda sensor
  • worn spark plugs or ignition coils
  • a dirty mass air flow sensor
  • an EGR valve that is not working properly
  • a clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF), especially on diesels that do lots of short trips

That is why we work in three steps. When we read the codes, we take the fault codes and data from the car. During the diagnosis we measure and test until the cause is as clear as we can make it. The repair comes after that, and only after we have discussed it with you. This way we do not replace parts that are still good.

Did the light come on after starting problems or a flat battery? Then have the battery and the charging voltage checked too. Read more about having your car battery tested in Rotterdam. Is a red battery light on? Then read what to do when the battery light is on and the alternator is not charging.

Is the car hesitating or losing power? Read more about a car that hesitates or stalls. On a diesel, is the glow plug light flashing or does it start badly in the cold? Then read more about a diesel that starts badly. If you get an oil pressure warning, first read what to do when the oil warning light is on (in Dutch).

Do you drive a Peugeot, Citroën, DS or Opel with a PureTech engine and get an oil pressure warning? Then switch off the engine as soon as it is safe. Read more in our guide to PureTech problems (in Dutch).

Did another garage give you a high quote? Then ask us for a second opinion. You can read more about how we work on our page about car diagnostics (in Dutch).

Two mechanics at a car with the bonnet open in a workshop

How to have your engine warning light read at our garage

You book a diagnosis by phone. You bring the car in Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am, or on Saturday at 9.00 am.

1

Call

Call +31 10 479 00 00. Have your registration number ready and tell us what you see and notice. We will help you decide whether you can still drive the car. You will also hear when we can see you.

2

Get the diagnosis price

You hear in advance what the diagnosis costs. The price depends on the investigation that is needed.

3

Reading the codes and finding the cause

We read the fault codes and take further measurements if needed. Then we explain what we found.

4

Quote and approval

Is a repair needed? Then you get a quote first. We only start once you agree.

Fix the fault before your APK

A lit engine warning light has consequences for the APK. On petrol and diesel cars first registered after 2005, the inspector reads the emissions diagnostic system (EOBD). The inspector also checks that the light itself works.

Are there emissions fault codes in the system, or has the car not yet finished its own tests? Then the inspector measures the emissions directly. A car with a real fault can fail on that measurement. So do not count on passing the APK with the engine warning light on.

Have the cause checked before the APK. If you like, we combine the diagnosis or the repair with your APK in the same visit. If you have a major service (in Dutch) done at the same time, the APK is free, except for Tesla and Polestar. For vans up to 3,500 kg and motorhomes, read more about the APK for vans and the APK for motorhomes.

Afterwards we record the work in our own system and, if you have a service book, in that as well.

After roadside assistance, with a van or with a motorhome

We often see these three situations.

After ANWB roadside assistance

ANWB roadside assistance (Wegenwacht) can read a fault code at the roadside and tell you that you can drive on carefully. If needed, we then look for the cause. That way you know why the light came on, and the warning has not only been cleared.

Is a roadside repair not possible? Then have the car brought to us. Outside opening hours this is at your own risk. Read how this works in case of a breakdown.

The van that has to keep running

A van that is off the road costs you income. With lots of short trips, the DPF cannot clean itself as well. That can trigger warning messages. We read that kind of fault and look for the cause. We do not clean or replace DPFs ourselves, but you will hear what we find.

We schedule the diagnosis as soon as possible, on Saturday too if you like. Read more about repairing your van.

The motorhome right before you leave

A warning light right before your holiday is annoying. On motorhomes the EGR valve or the DPF can play a part, for example after lots of short trips or a long time standing still.

We regularly diagnose motorhomes built on the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper. Read more about repairing your motorhome.

Mechanic with arms crossed under a car on the lift in a workshop
  • Fault reading with professional diagnostic equipment
  • We look for the cause, not only the fault code
  • We talk to you first, then replace parts
  • Motorhomes and vans up to 3,500 kg too, if the vehicle fits on the lift

Certainty first, then the repair

What do reading the codes and the diagnosis cost?

That depends on the investigation that is needed. Sometimes reading the codes is enough. Often we need to measure further, because a fault code is a clue and not a diagnosis. You hear in advance what the diagnosis costs.

Is a repair needed? Then you get a quote first, with the parts, the labour and the VAT. We also tell you what needs doing straight away and what can wait. We only start once you agree.

Engine warning light diagnosis in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 (3077 AW) in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. The A15 is five minutes’ drive away. You can park for free in front of the garage if there is space. The Stadion Feijenoord tram stop (line 3) is nearby.

We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht.

We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.30 and on Saturday from 9.00 to 15.00. We are closed on Sundays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Call +31 10 479 00 00 and have your registration number ready. You will hear when we can see you and what the diagnosis costs. Does the repair take longer? Then you can use a free loan bike, if one is available. Our team speaks English, so feel free to ask us anything: see our contact page.

Plan your route to Boterdiep 11 or find all our details on the contact page.

Frequently asked questions about an engine warning light

No need to click. All the answers are already open below.

Can I keep driving if my engine warning light is orange?

Yes. You usually can, if the light is a steady orange and the car drives normally. Drive carefully to a garage. Keep your speed down, do not accelerate hard, do not carry heavy loads and have the fault read as soon as possible.

Is the car losing power, can you smell fuel or is the engine running unevenly? Then stop safely and call us first on +31 10 479 00 00.

My engine warning light is flashing. What should I do?

Stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. A flashing light can point to a serious fault in the ignition or combustion. Unburnt fuel can then get into the exhaust and the catalytic converter.

If you keep driving, the catalytic converter can be damaged. So have the car brought to us, and we will look for the cause.

What is the difference between an orange and a red light?

An orange light is usually a warning. There is a fault, but if the car drives normally you can often drive carefully to a garage. With a red warning light, stop as soon as it is safe and switch off the engine. This applies, for example, to a warning about the oil pressure or the engine temperature.

Not every red light means the same thing. So check your owner’s manual as well. Driving on with a serious warning can cause major engine damage in a short time.

What are the most common causes of an engine warning light?

Common causes are a fuel cap that was not closed properly, a faulty lambda sensor, worn spark plugs or ignition coils, a dirty mass air flow sensor, an EGR valve that is not working properly or a clogged DPF.

On diesels, the DPF cannot clean itself as well if you do lots of short trips. The light itself does not tell you which cause it is. To find out, we read the car’s data and take further measurements if needed. Did the light go out by itself? Have the codes read anyway, especially if the light comes back.

Will my car pass the APK with the engine warning light on?

No. Do not count on it. On petrol and diesel cars first registered after 2005, the inspector reads the emissions diagnostic system (EOBD). The inspector also checks that the light itself works.

Are there emissions fault codes in the system, or has the car not yet finished its own tests? Then the inspector measures the emissions directly. A car with a real fault can fail on that measurement. So have the cause checked before the APK. If you like, we combine that with your APK in the same visit.

How much does it cost to read an engine warning light?

That depends on the investigation that is needed. Sometimes reading the fault codes is enough. Often extra measurements are needed to find the cause.

You hear in advance what the diagnosis costs. Is a repair needed? Then you get a quote first, with the parts, the labour and the VAT. Call +31 10 479 00 00 and have your registration number ready.

Does it help to have the fault code cleared?

No. That does not fix the cause. After clearing, the light goes out, but if the fault is still there, it comes back. Clearing also deletes data that we need to find the cause.

Clearing the codes right before the APK does not help either. The car has then not finished its own tests, and the inspector measures the emissions directly. So have the cause found first.

Does this also apply to my motorhome or van?

Yes. Motorhomes and vans have an engine management system too. How it works and what we can read differs by make, engine, year and version.

On motorhomes built on the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer or Citroën Jumper, the EGR valve or the DPF can play a part, especially after lots of short trips or a long time standing still.

Our workshop has five heavy-duty lifts, including lifts for motorhomes and commercial vehicles up to 3,500 kg. Whether your motorhome or van fits on the lift also depends on its size and version. Call ahead with your registration number and we will check it for you.

What our customers say

4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews

Other problems? Read more about a car that will not start, a car that makes a noise, a vibrating steering wheel and car diagnostics in Rotterdam (in Dutch). You can prevent many faults with a service that follows the maintenance schedule. If you break down, read what to do in case of a breakdown in Rotterdam.

Nederlands? Deze pagina is er ook in het Nederlands.