Blinking engine light - does it mean anything?

[stevedee3]

After reading this post for how to read fault codes on an Astra H, I wondered whether the Vectra C had the same function.

The procedure is:

1. Ignition off
2. Fully press both the brake and accelerator pedals
3. Turn key to Run (but not crank!) position

When I do this on my manual MY2003 V6 petrol, the engine light comes on for four seconds, goes off, then starts blinking about twice a second. It stops once you release either pedal, otherwise it seems to go on blinking forever.

Question:
Is this just the engine controller warning me that this is not a clever thing to do?
Do all Vectra Cs exhibit the same behaviour?

[Ste]

Just tried this in mine (04 1.8 LS) and it did.
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NOTHING AT ALL

[stevedee3]

OK, I think I found the answer to my own question. If (big if) Google translated correctly, it sounds like the procedure I described will blink engine fault codes. Can anyone with a 3.2 V6 (with faults!) confirm this?

Here's a Google'd translation from German:

Blink times the error codes, please!

Also in the car, ignition OF MOTOR NOT START! Gas and brake through.

Then he flashes 4 digits of the code to control light emission. 0 = 10x blink.

Link to original (German) forum post

Blink mal bitte die Fehlercodes aus!

Also in den Wagen setzen, Zündung AN, MOTOR NICHT STARTEN! Gas und Bremse durchdrücken.

Dann blinkt er 4-Stellige Codes an der Abgaskontrollleuchte aus. 0 = 10x blinken.

[ryan.d]

Ok my Emission Control Light came on today. It stayed on for about an hour but after a meal i went back out to the car and started it up, the light was no longer on.

I have recently given it an oil change and an oil flush which i think was its first ever oil flush with an oil change. (carbon on a sensor maybe???!!)

Ive been reading a few threads but cant really shed any light on it unless i go to vx. Tried pressing the brake and accelerator pedal and turning the ignition on to see what the ecu tells me but i dont know how to read the flashes.

Can anyone help on how to diagnose it myself?

Thanks

[stevedee3]

Tried pressing the brake and accelerator pedal and turning the ignition on to see what the ecu tells me but i dont know how to read the flashes.

I've just submitted a "how to" for this... just need to wait for the moderators to approve it...

[ryan.d]

ok thanks