Malfunction indicator light

CHILLIE1

MEMBER
2003 NISSAN MICRA
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
37,648 MILES

My car occasionally will not start. When I turn the ignition it just clicks as though the starter motor has gone. I wait a few minutes and it starts>
Now the amber light sometimes come on to indicate an emission control system malfunction.
Are these problems connected?

The car has recently been serviced and MOT, d and I have had the battery replaced

1 Reply

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,757 POSTS

No, I doubt they are connected. The "check engine" light is an indicator for a system that monitors many electronic functions in the system, also called the "malfunction indicator lamp" (MIL). It can come on for any of hundreds of different causes from any of the systems that the computer monitors. Some are very important and can lead to further component or engine damage and some are emissions related not as serious but still a problem and need to be repaired.

Your first step is to have the computer scanned to retrieve the trouble codes that were set when the check engine light came on. Those codes will give you specific information about what the computer saw and will get you pointed in the right direction to find your problem