I started my car up to let it warm up a bit in the snow this morning. It ran for about 10 minutes. When I got in it to drive away I saw the check engine light was on. Nothing was displayed in the computer, just the pic of the engine was on on the speedo. It was a yellow light and it did not flash. So I look in the manual and its very vague as to what it means. This is what it says:

Indicator lamp 1 comes on:
Engine malfunction with adverse
effect on exhaust emissions
You can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise
due caution. Have the vehicle
checked as soon as possible.

Now on to the questions.

Could this possibly be caused by ice or condensation build up in the exhaust system. If the light goes out, do I still have to take it to the dealership? I still have not driven the car, I am wondering since it may be exhaust related, could the act of driving the car maybe push out whatever is causing the problem?

I would rather not take a day off of work to take it to the dealer if is a minor issue that could correct itself.

TIA for your opinions.

 

this means the engine computer sensed a fault a threw a code which can be read with an appropriate reader.

Some major autopart chains will read this code for free and most garages will charge a silly price to do the same thing - including the dealer.

The light may go out but the computer will retain the code for future reading. I had a Miata which had the lite come on every damp morning. Living in SanFran I saw that lite a LOT! It was due to a faulty O2 sensor (common) and I just never bothered to replace it as it was not a plug in piece but a minor pia to do.

Most of the time this is simply an emissions issue and is not critical.

 

I am still under warranty, so the dealership should not charge me anything.....its just the PITA factor.

 

I just had my 07' in for the same thing. Just started it up, first time in a couple of weeks and it gave me the yellow engine light. Took it to the stealer and they got 287E vanos, inlet actuator movement or in laymans term solenoid valve for camshaft adjusting unit dirty/ blocked. Ok now it was still under warr.