Sailed through MOT....THEN this happened....

My GTA passed MOT no problems earlier today. I picked it up and on the way home got the dreaded "Motor control systems failure....go to dealer".

I have had it flash on before on starting (say 5 times in 3 years), but it has always gone straight off. This time it stayed on. I tried turning off ignition and starting again but light still there. I inspected battery and the "magic eye" is black, which suggests battery is f**ked. However it starts first time.
Any ideas anyone?

Ta

Try turning it off and back on a further 3 times. This should remove any codes from your 'current' memory and place them in the 'long term' memory, and if there is no fault currently present in the car the fault display should go off.

You mean start the engine and stop it 3 times?

Originally Posted by PR

You mean start the engine and stop it 3 times?

Yeah.. If mine ever logs a fault, it takes three starts and stops before the light goes out.

I will pass that on, I dropped it at my dads, he's taking it to my mechanic in the morning. It has been re started 5 or 6 times since it first came on though and its still there, flashes up and beeps on start up. Warning light on speedo stays there as does the same symbol on the LCD display

Just to add, the engine is still running sweetly and entirely as normal, as is the consumption, water temp, oil temp and as of 1100 this morning all the emissions were fine.

Yours might be different, remember mine doesn't have a computer and is running a different ECU to yours. Mines a vintage '98 after all.

Yes but maybe worth a try, cheers for the help Pud

Originally Posted by PR

I inspected battery and the "magic eye" is black, which suggests battery is f**ked.

If you have a battery charger, take the battery out of the car and charge it.

Sadly I dont. Would a undercharged battery cause an error like this? And are those colour codes reliable?

Thanks

Originally Posted by PR

Sadly I dont. Would a undercharged battery cause an error like this? And are those colour codes reliable?

Thanks

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/engin...r-battery.html (Motor Control System Failure - Check your Battery)

Thanks for that David, looks like the most likely culprit!

what David said. They're very sensitive to batterys.

Update, on starting it this morning, no warning lights or anything!(It was quite a cold night aswell) Mechanic said give it a good run out (Im off to Leeds this evening), and see what happens. I still suspect battery was the cause.

I'd agree, battery voltage is very important on modern cars as the on board computers use the voltage as reference point, too much variation and they start to 'get their knickers in a twist'.

Went to Leeds fri eve, then left car all weekend, drove back this evening all ok, no hint of warnings or anthing

Its just the car letting you know who is really in control

AlfaLincs

It's probably known that from day one!

Still no repeat, and the battery magic eye is now green again. Im sure the MOT man has left something on which has run the battery down. All ok now though thankfully

Originally Posted by PR

Still no repeat, and the battery magic eye is now green again. Im sure the MOT man has left something on which has run the battery down. All ok now though thankfully

Glad to see all is well again.

Originally Posted by PR

Still no repeat, and the battery magic eye is now green again. Im sure the MOT man has left something on which has run the battery down. All ok now though thankfully

Good stuff minor wobble nothing to affect your passion though