My friend has a ford Ka, Mk1, 2004 i think.

Her engine warning light is coming on when she starts the engine but doesnt go off again and she doesnt have a user manual.

I know it means theres issues, but can someone check their user manual and tell me what it says because each cars lights can have different meanings and i know jack about Ka's.

Cheers

Just means "there's something wrong - get a diagnostic read". First resort, unplug the battery overnight. When you restart it it'll need to find it's settings again, but all you do on these is go for a drive and a bit of a rag. If that doesn't clear it, you need a diagnostic read doing.

http://www.samarins.com/diagnose/checkengine.html

Edited 9 January, 201214 yr by Po*Low*

As the link says, could be anything, but after the battery check to clear, she really should get it checked. Most garages will have a fault code reader as will a mobile auto electrician if there are any left.

On some cars you can do stuff with the ignition to get the light to flash a sequence and then look up what those codes are on the net.

Have you searched the net for Ka fault codes?

The lump in the Ka dates back many years and is a very simple engine. (assuming its a standard 1.3i which I believe a variant on the old efi.

I once had the engine light come up on my Corsa sri 1.4 16v, I was doing about 80mph - it was six months old. The light went away again next time i tried it as it was 6 weeks later and had a new engine. :)

Yeah, if it's a 1.3, there's precious little to a Ka engine, it's probably simpler than a mk3 GT, and if you know your way round a mk1-3 Polo engine, a lot of it will ring bells.

Are they not from a Fiesta? The certainly tap tap tap like a Fiesta

if you trace its family history all the way back the block was first used in the 1959 Ford Anglia.

if you trace its family history all the way back the block was first used in the 1959 Ford Anglia.

hopefully not that actual engine from back then - then again they mostly sound like they are. :-D

If they didnt rust quicker then a 1976 alfa, the Ka would be a future classic - at least with a flat top zetec and irtb's. Practically anything ford fits in them.

if you trace its family history all the way back the block was first used in the 1959 Ford Anglia.

more than just the block I think.

It's the only thing Ford can do well: dress up technology from Noahs' ark to look modern. Although I doubt the ark rotted as quickly....

A mate of mine is putting a 1.8 zetec overbored to 1.9 with a big ass turbo in his KA as we speak, will annihilate anything!

It may go fast, but at the end of the day its stilll a Ford KA :p

My friend has a ford Ka, Mk1, 2004 i think.

Her engine warning light is coming on when she starts the engine but doesnt go off again and she doesnt have a user manual.

I know it means theres issues, but can someone check their user manual and tell me what it says because each cars lights can have different meanings and i know jack about Ka's.

Cheers

hold the "reset tripometer" button then turn the key to stand by. it should give you some fault codes. Just google them and you'll have an answer!

Happened to my Mrs, i tried leaving battery off over night, fixing the actual problem (fooked spark plug) and reset procedures, but ended up having the ECU reset on an MOT.

It may go fast, but at the end of the day its stilll a Ford KA :p

Could say the same about old polos though.

I used to deliver hire cars for a living and I preferred the old-style ka's to most of the stuff we handled, they were about the only thing that was actually involving to drive.

I always liked the way they drove for a budget car.

But building a fast one is like any other modified car, how fast do you want to go and how much money have you got. (a bit of know how helps if you haven't go the cash)

It will be a quick car that, maybe not a good all rounder.

i drove my gf's Ka back from the shops once, and was surprised that it actually felt ok to drive tbh

It may go fast, but at the end of the day its stilll a Ford KA :p

Could say the same about old polos though.

I used to deliver hire cars for a living and I preferred the old-style ka's to most of the stuff we handled, they were about the only thing that was actually involving to drive.

That's true. I drove one when I was learning and a friends for a short while, didn't like them that much, felt very cramped inside and I don't really like the way they look .But all personal opinion at the end of the day :)

i've driven one and it felt like cross-dressing, it just feels wrong.

hold the "reset tripometer" button then turn the key to stand by. it should give you some fault codes. Just google them and you'll have an answer!

Happened to my Mrs, i tried leaving battery off over night, fixing the actual problem (fooked spark plug) and reset procedures, but ended up having the ECU reset on an MOT.

What do you mean by standby mode buddy? just the 1st ignition click?

Mates got a KA with a misfire, even after changing the entire ignition system, servicing and redexing a full tank, and we cant work out whats up with it.

if you trace its family history all the way back the block was first used in the 1959 Ford Anglia.

more than just the block I think.

It's the only thing Ford can do well: dress up technology from Noahs' ark to look modern. Although I doubt the ark rotted as quickly....

well ok it was an OHV engine so came with pushrods etc but the anglia version of the kent engine (renamed Endura-E for the KA) wasn't crossflow but the ka is. also the block was the basis for the lotus twin cam and a in a contrived way related to the Cosworth DFV F1 engines.

Mates got a KA with a misfire, even after changing the entire ignition system, servicing and redexing a full tank, and we cant work out whats up with it.

There's a 3 pin plug at the back of the engine, check it.

Also lift the rocker cover off with the engine running and watch the rockers. Could be a worn pushrod/cam lobe, seen it happening before.

As for the OPs question, I'd put a fiver on a faulty Lambda sensor.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help.

It may go fast, but at the end of the day its stilll a Ford KA :p

Would be a sweet sleeper if done right, but at the end of the day you can polish a turd but it's still a turd!

I've been waiting to say that!

It may go fast, but at the end of the day its stilll a Ford KA :p

Would be a sweet sleeper if done right, but at the end of the day you can polish a turd but it's still a turd!

I've been waiting to say that!

You cant polish a turd .. but you can roll it in glitter. :/

Yes you can - Mythbusters proved it! http://youtu.be/yiJ9fy1qSFI

haha so you can .. for some odd reason i want to make one of these poo balls now :/..buffer it to fuck with g3 to get it mirror shined lmao :p