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[Klaxon]

Do we have a Vauxhall expert on the forum?
My wife has a 66 plate Meriva 1.4 petrol (33k on the clock) which shes had from new. We had a major service in September.
The engine light has come on the book suggests its a problem with the catalytic converter this was after a couple of very short trips, I wonder if the catalytic converter has got sooted up? Maybe a good thrashing is needed?
what does the experts think?

[AlexB]

I'm no expert but I would go with the give it a good trashing

3 junctions of the M1 or 62 doing 70 in third

[Wittsend]

If you don't want to take the car back to the garage and complain nicely that they check it out...

Do what I did; enter "Vauxhall 66 plate Meriva 1.4 petrol" into Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogle and see what comes up.
I found this YouTube vid.
Find the engine code fault

[lowoil]

Wait a couple of days, ours (Zafira) come on very occasionally but goes off after a day or so, if still on then, get it checked out.

[Klaxon]

Thanks for the replies, the youtube trick doesn't seem to work. there is not a lot on t,web for the later models, Vauxhall forums suggest that disconnecting the battery for a while should force a reset ?
As stated by Lowoil it might go away after a run out, we will see tomorrow.
Thanks again, if only every thing was as simple as a series2!!!

[stuart]

if you were in my neck of the woods i would scan it for you , but i would start by driving it like a transit van , give it a good thrashing , and you could try some cat cleaner

[Peter Holden]

A good "Italian tuneup" works wonders, beat it to death fro 20 miles or so at high revs works wonders.  I do it with our eurobox on the way to the MOT and so far they have commented every time about how low the emissions are.  Diesels like to work hard.  I also add Wittsends favourite cetane improver on s regular basis and I run on the cheapest supermarket diesel.

Peter

[Rog-from-Bix]

unless Vauxhalls are different to other manufactures a cel can come on  for a myriad of faults and unfortunately you will probably need it plugged in to a fault code reader to find out what is playing up. 

[andys101]

The problem could be anything.
Taking it for a spank could be catastrophic for your wallet.
It needs to be plugged in to read the codes.

[autorover1]

Suggest you get codes read properly before trying anything.
I was having this problem of check light illuminating after a few miles,  on a Suzuki  Wagoneer, had codes checked at garage & they advised it needed a new EGR valve which would cost more than I paid for it.  Fortunately the garage attached the readout to the invoice which actually said , low EGR  flow . I took the valve  off, gave it and all the passages a good clean & put it back , no check light for grand sum of £2.50 for a new gasket.

[Rory]

I know that on my older Astra if you pressed the clutch and brake before turning the key to the second position the engine management will flash the code giving you something to look for.

[Klaxon]

Update...
Took the car for blast did approx 40 miles and it behaved as norm,mpg as norm,clean tail pipe,start and tick over good.  The check light still on!
The local main dealer wanted £80 odd pounds for a diagnostic check and £90 odd pounds an hour to fix plus parts.
After much research I purchased an Amazon recommended scanner/diag hand held device (£29) and turned off the light.....
The car has been used since and all good, so I shall keep an eye on it.
Thanks for the replies.

[w3526602]

Hi,

In passing ... are not Vauxhall related to Holden? ... and surely there are some Holden powered Series lurking in tha antipedes? (anti-pedes = opposite foot).

Is there anything we can learn from them?

602

[Klaxon]

Sodding light came back on......
Got the look from SHMBO.....
Its going for fixing on Thursday.
I tried I really tried.....

[geoff]

I purchased an Amazon recommended scanner/diag hand held device (£29) and turned off the light.....

  ... and the fault code was