Uncategorized RoadWhinge on 24 Nov 2006 02:14 pm
Almost Disappointed… But Not Quite.
A while ago I heard someone say that if the little engine icon on the dashboard lights up then one should get the car checked over pronto, in case it explodes or turns into a Fiat Panda or something…
Well, a few weeks back the little icon lit up in my car. It had flickered before, but this time it stayed on. So, I got my friendly local mechanic to have a look. No problem, he said. It’s not serious, you just need to put some cleaning stuff into the catalytic convertor - it’ll be cheap (he daren’t try to con me because I maintain his website!).
I was sceptical. After all, I had heard that this particular warning light always meant expensive disaster. Anyway, Andrew put the aforementioned “stuff” into the cat, the light went out and has not come back on since. What is more the car actually seems to be running better than it did before the problem with the sinister glowing engine icon.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m relieved… but also a little disappointed. After all, with all the hype surrounding that little amber light, I was expecting an explosion at the very least.
It’s all very vague, isn’t it? A special light lights up to warn you that something - an unspecified something - is wrong with your car. I’d been led to believe that “something” was always serious and costly. It turns out that it can also be something minor and of no immediate importance. After all, when I first mentioned the light to my friend the mechanic he said: “If it’s running okay then don’t worry. Just keep driving it until I fit you in next week…”
Not that I wanted a serious fault, it’s just that I don’t see why they have to design instrument panels to scare the crap out of one unnecessarily.