Amber Service Engine Soon light
 

Came on at about 84,XXX miles. I don't have a code reader, but from reading posts on the subject, some guys say just to reset or take the little red controller out altogether. Some guys say it is a warning that something small is broken, but that you can still drive safely.
Is it just an automatic light that comes on at a certain mileage, or does it really warn of a broken part? If I reset the little red box (or remove it), is there something that I am overlooking that could damage my Rover in a big way?
I am in the Sacramento area, I saw another thread had asked for this info in case there was a nearby resource.
Thanks in advance, guys.

You are thinking of Discover series 1. No little red box on your car. The SES light you have on is the same thing as a check engine light, or malfunction indicator light. Go to the parts store and have the code read for free, and come back with the codes.

x2 Go to the parts store and have the code read for free, and come back with the codes.

That light will only come on if there is a problem and you should act on it ASAP. Long ago people used to call it an idiot light, when in fact it wasn't the vehicle that was an idiot but the person who didn't pay attention to it.
I hear most auto parts stores in your area no longer do free code checking so either buy your self a good scanner or pay some shop, but get it read and get back to us with the fault code numbers so we can help you.

Even better go to land rover dealer or land rover specific mechanic and have them scan the codes, they will be able to more accurately pin point the problem. ...... just don't let the dealer perform any work unless you are ready to pay $$$$!

Good luck.

I really appreciate all of the help.
my brother in law runs a smog shop here, and I think he has a reader. I will see if he can tell me what is up. Does the reader have to be Land Rover specific, or does a normal diagnostic code reader work? He has used it before to tell me a part that had failed on a Ford before.

Doesn't not have to be land river specific

You can plug in most any OBDII code reader and get the codes out.

You don't want to drive around with the amber light on.
It means that the engine is not performing optimally as some
parameter is off or a sensor has gone bad.

This light most commonly goes off for

o Misfires - spark plug wire or plug not firing.
o O2 sensors - old, defective, not functioning properly.
o Cat convertor kaput.

And, there are literally probably 100 other codes.

I think if the amber light FLASHES when you are driving then it means you are destroying your catalytic convertors with unburned gas.
Best of luck.

Thanks. Heading over after work.
I am going to change the plugs and wires regardless, because it has been on my list. I have decided to buy NGK iridium plugs, based on the posts I have read. How about plug wires? I don't see as much of an opinion on those.

First on your list must be:

I am starting your list at zero

0) Read engine codes with OBD II scanner and correcting problems causing codes.
0a) correct code 1
0b) correct code 2
0n) correct code n

If item #0 is not taken care of, then the rest do not matter really.