spanner light on..... great

**damers2000** · 1st March 2011, 22:57

I serviced my car at the weekend which consisted of an oil change, check of the pads, oiled the hinges and that was it then today I get the dreaded spanner light over the car. Surely this is just coincidence as I didn't touch anything other than the sump plug, oil filter and engine oil cap.

It came on first thing then went off after about 10 miles. Then, left work at 5 light was on again for about 2 miles then went off.

I used to have a diagnostic programme on my other laptop which ran XP but the damn thing gave up the ghost a week ago so bought a new laptop with windows 7 on. Problem is, the diagnostics programme doesn;t run on Win 7!

Tried the pedal test but nothing happened.........

**123rado** · 1st March 2011, 23:01

Originally Posted by damers2000

I serviced my car at the weekend which consisted of an oil change, check of the pads, oiled the hinges and that was it then today I get the dreaded spanner light over the car. Surely this is just coincidence as I didn't touch anything other than the sump plug, oil filter and engine oil cap.

It came on first thing then went off after about 10 miles. Then, left work at 5 light was on again for about 2 miles then went off.

I used to have a diagnostic programme on my other laptop which ran XP but the damn thing gave up the ghost a week ago so bought a new laptop with windows 7 on. Problem is, the diagnostics programme doesn;t run on Win 7!

Tried the pedal test but nothing happened.........

Check glow plugs if the light shows only when you start the car from cold. Had this before.

**M65** · 1st March 2011, 23:17

Win 7 has an XP compatibilty mode built in depending on which version you use.

**djr69uk** · 2nd March 2011, 02:31

Originally Posted by 123rado

Check glow plugs if the light shows only when you start the car from cold. Had this before.

Ditto!

**wickedwillie** · 2nd March 2011, 07:56

As said, Windows 7, some versions have XP mode. Right click on the program you want to run then if it has run in xp mode, try that.

**rich r** · 2nd March 2011, 09:34

Only the most expensive versions of Windows 7 have the XP mode. Most people have the lower Home Premium version at home.

However - if you use something like VirtualBox (which is free) you can install XP on a virtual machine running in a window, and use that. It'll connect most USB devices through to the virtual machine.

**bigmac** · 2nd March 2011, 10:26

I would check EGR plug presuming you changed filter you may have disturbed it

**wickedwillie** · 2nd March 2011, 13:50

Originally Posted by rich r

Only the most expensive versions of Windows 7 have the XP mode. Most people have the lower Home Premium version at home.

However - if you use something like VirtualBox (which is free) you can install XP on a virtual machine running in a window, and use that. It'll connect most USB devices through to the virtual machine.

or VMWARE

**dh.dti** · 2nd March 2011, 15:04

If it's only throwing the spanner during cold starts & going out once the temp has lifted a little, it will be glow plugs... it doesn't usually throw a code either.
I have just replaced my glow plugs as part of a big service after having the same symptoms.
Which part of west yorks are you, i'm in Bradford & have an MS509 code reader which is compatable.

**damers2000** · 2nd March 2011, 17:50

cheers for all the comments, the MD was out today so managed to stick a copy of opcom on one of the old laptops here and got a code, you won't be surprised to know what it is

P0380 - Glow device general error

I assume that means a glow plug has failed or is failing?

I must admit, the starting of the car in a morning varies. SOme mornings it starts more or less straight away and other mornings it takes a few extra turns, would this explain a failed glow plug?

Cheers