I would appreciate advice, urgently. I started my car (2001 XC), already warm, this evening to go and get gas. The gas was running low with 60 miles still indicated to empty. First, I noticed that the orange auto position light was not working (auto mode and geartronic). At the same time, the symbol appeared for the emission control problem with the warning: "emission system service required." Then I found that there was a third problem: the auto transmission would not shift out of first gear in auto mode. All these three things happened at the same time after the car had been just fine half an hour before when I parked it.

After stopping the car and restarting the engine 2 or 3 times, the gear postion lights reappeared and the gears now shift. I have filled up with gas but now am concerned:

1. Why did the emmission warning came on - the gas cap was on tight since the last fill?

2. Why would an emission indication (whether real or spurious) cause the transmission to stop working and the position indicator lights to go off?

3. Can I safely run the car until I can get round to going to the dealer given the combination of problems?

Apart from warning check indication (still on), the car seems to have resumed its normal running, even before I filled up with gas.

Thanks in anticipation of a good samaritan sorting out my worry.