check control messages

[andyb99]

Hi Guys i've done a search here but not had much luck....
My car is giving an amber check control warning (looks like the car on a service ramp)when i insert the key fob....its MOT is not due and service not due until sept this year.....i cant really find out what this means. it only happens the first time i insert the key fob after a short time (or longer time....days) standing and it goes out when i start the car...if i stop the car and take out the fob...put it back in....light doesnt come on!!
brake lights are all working fine....car is running sweet.....never has any problems starting etc)...no other lights on (some searching suggested i would see 'brakes' or 'P' pointing to what the problem was.

any ideas?
is there a way to make the computer check each item and point to what its finding?

2009 3.0i Sdrive. 36k miles

[Nictrix]

If you check the manual it will tell you how to scroll through all the servicable items using the stalk and each one gives you a date and milage when it is due to be looked at.
The car on the ramp with no other message is a pain if you happen to miss the initial message that should have shown up.

[New2Zed]

I got that warning icon last week. Handbook says low or faulty battery, which it was.

[andyb99]

I got that warning icon last week. Handbook says low or faulty battery, which it was.

i think this might be a good call because i've not been using it much over christmas and into the new year because i've been travelling a lot with work.....is there a way to check this is the fault its showing using the stalk?
or should i just give it a decent drive and hope it recovers

[inz4ne]

had the same warning, popped the battery on charge, sorted. Not had much use this winter. absolute doddle to find charging points, although pics in handbook were really poor. There we have it my second maintenance task completed in just over 3 years, first one was fitting a stubby..[emoji56]

[andyb99]

had the same warning, popped the battery on charge, sorted. Not had much use this winter. absolute doddle to find charging points, although pics in handbook were really poor. There we have it my second maintenance task completed in just over 3 years, first one was fitting a stubby..[emoji56]

not sure what you mean by finding charging points?

i'm sure this must be the problem cause its not had much use either....i have a battery optimiser in my garage but i'll have to take the battery off (cause my garage is full of stuff)

[New2Zed]

had the same warning, popped the battery on charge, sorted. Not had much use this winter. absolute doddle to find charging points, although pics in handbook were really poor. There we have it my second maintenance task completed in just over 3 years, first one was fitting a stubby..[emoji56]

not sure what you mean by finding charging points?

i'm sure this must be the problem cause its not had much use either....i have a battery optimiser in my garage but i'll have to take the battery off (cause my garage is full of stuff)

Taking the battery off is a bit of a faff and with a conditioner/optimiser you don't even have to disconnect it apparently, although the charger instructions I have read aren't specific on this.

Is an extension lead not practical?

The emergency starting points, which some people use for charging, are in the engine compartment and identified in the handbook. The battery, of course, is in the boot and easily accessible and I prefer to connect directly to it.

[andyb99]

Thanks Guys, yes an extension is a possibility.....i'll give it a good run over the next couple of days that might sort it out...if not i'll charge it....then see what happens

[E89_Gaz]

If you have access to a decent OBD diagnostic system, you can pull a fairly detailed report off that shows the charge state over a period of time (I think 7 days and lifetime of current battery). If you live near the East Midlands, I could run a full system scan for you, which should show up any anomlies and the overall state of your battery.

[andyb99]

If you have access to a decent OBD diagnostic system, you can pull a fairly detailed report off that shows the charge state over a period of time (I think 7 days and lifetime of current battery). If you live near the East Midlands, I could run a full system scan for you, which should show up any anomlies and the overall state of your battery.

thanks for the offer Gaz, sadly i'm in lancs though and dont have an odb system....appreciate the offer of help though!

[abeardo83]

Has a wheel been off, or it been on a ramp for a day or so?

Only reason I ask is that I had the same thing happen after the car spent a day on the jack when getting a tyre changed. A day of driving later, it had gone.