Few things cause more anxiety than a warning light appearing on your dashboard. Is it something minor? Is your engine about to destroy itself? Modern cars can have dozens of warning lights, and not all of them are easy to understand or cheap to fix.
If your dashboard is lit up and you’re wondering what to do, Surrey Car Buyer offers a simple solution: we’ll buy your car as it is, warning lights and all.
Common Warning Lights and What They Mean
Engine Management Light (Check Engine)
The amber engine light can indicate anything from a loose fuel cap to serious engine problems. Common causes include oxygen sensor failure, catalytic converter issues, misfires, and emissions problems. Diagnosis alone can cost £50-£150.
ABS Warning Light
Indicates a problem with your anti-lock braking system. Often caused by wheel speed sensor failures, which cost £100-£300 per sensor to replace.
Airbag Warning Light
A fault in the supplementary restraint system. This is an MOT failure and can be expensive to diagnose and repair, especially if the problem is in the wiring loom or a module.
Oil Pressure Warning
If this light comes on while driving, you should stop immediately. Low oil pressure can cause catastrophic engine damage within seconds.
Temperature Warning
Indicates your engine is overheating. Often related to engine problems that can be expensive to fix.
The MOT Implications
Many warning lights are automatic MOT failures, including:
- Engine management light
- ABS warning light
- Airbag light
- Electronic stability control light
If your car has warning lights, it may well fail its next MOT. Selling before that happens can save you money.
Why Diagnosis Isn’t Always Worth It
Here’s the problem with warning lights: you often have to pay for diagnosis before you know what you’re dealing with. You could spend £100+ just to discover you need a £500 repair. For many cars, especially older ones, this spending spiral doesn’t make sense.
A Simpler Alternative
When you sell to us, you don’t need to pay for diagnosis. Just tell us which lights are on, and we’ll factor that into our offer. We understand cars and can make fair valuations based on the information you provide.
Ready to Sell?
Get your free quote today. We buy cars with warning lights from across Surrey, including Guildford, Woking, Reigate, Farnham, and all surrounding areas.