Your car may fail its MOT test if there are issues with the suspension or brakes, but what about the engine management light?
If your engine management light is on, then you may be concerned about passing an upcoming MOT test.
Read on and find out what an engine management light signifies, and whether or not an illuminated engine management light will lead to MOT failure.
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Is an Illuminated Engine Management Light an MOT Fail?
If your engine management light comes on and stays on during an MOT test, this will be classed as a major fault.
This is understandable, given that this likely means your car is unsafe, or is not as clean as it needs to be.
An illuminated engine management light will mean that your vehicle fails its MOT.
If you notice that an EML stays on when you turn on the ignition, or if the light comes on when you are driving, then there could be a problem under the bonnet which a garage will need to fix for you.
What Does the Engine Management Light Do?
An engine management light - or EML - is a dashboard warning light which will light up when there is a problem with your car’s engine, emissions system or exhaust. This makes the EML different to other dashboard warning lights, as the EML won’t alert you to a specific problem.
Sometimes known as the check engine light, your car’s engine management light will not let you know if there are issues with low coolant or oil levels.
A feature in modern cars, the engine management light usually looks like an engine block, though it sometimes resembles the words ‘check engine’.
It is normally located on the dashboard behind your steering wheel.
The engine management light can come on if it is triggered by the sensors in your car, which can detect issues with your engine or the level of exhaust emissions.
The sensor will then tell the engine control unit (ECU), which will turn on the EML. A broken sensor can also trigger the engine management light.
You are most likely to notice an engine management light when you turn your ignition on, as all of the dashboard lights will come on and go off again when your car first starts up.
What Does the EML Mean?
When your engine management light comes on, the issue can range in severity depending on the colour and status of the light.
Amber Light
If an amber or orange light comes on and stays on, then you should plan to take your car to a garage when you have the chance.
You should be safe to keep driving in the meantime, but you should have the vehicle looked at by a professional mechanic soon to ensure that a more serious issue isn’t likely to develop.
Flashing Light
A flashing orange light, on the other hand, can indicate that there is a problem impacting the way your vehicle handles or drives.
You may be aware of your car shaking, or a new sound being produced by the engine.
The vehicle will need to be checked out by a garage as soon as possible.
Red Light
A red light is the most serious of all these lights.
If you notice a red light whilst driving, you should pull over when it is safe to do so, and call a breakdown provider right away.
How Do I Turn Off the Engine Management Light?
Once the issue with your vehicle has been sorted, the technician working on your car will then reset the car’s ECU - this should turn off the EML after a little while.
If the light comes back on after the repair - or doesn’t go off - then this could mean that there are still issues with your car which need to be addressed.
You may need to have the garage perform another reset of the engine management light - the light should not be coming on for no reason at all.
If you would like to book your car’s next MOT test, you can do so easily through BookMyGarage.
