Vauxhall Owners Network Forum banner

reading ecu fault codes

5.7K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  Topbuzz  
#1 ·
right hear goes tried the paper clip trick today and tried reading the codes.. followin the topbuzz technical data.. and to be honest i couldent work it out the amount of flashes kept confusin me:sheeeet:... ie the pin A and B is shorted out and i get in car and start car and the ecu lights just flashes continiously in between pauses...
i dont know wen it actually starts flashing with the first fault. its just weird kept starting again from scratch still the first flashes confused me.. ie i got the faulty codes 99 and 86 which aint even listed... :rolleyes:
can someone please shed some light on me on how to do it... as the car is gettin worse by the day idles realy lumpy and its realy thirsty on fuel struggle to get 60miles out of a tenner also makes pop pop noise from exhaust... could it be the straight through zorst that is giving me problems..????
cars only got a K&N panel filter with outside ram, heads been skimmed for more compression and straight through zorst..
i personaly reckon my engine is on its way out its done just over 146k...
any ideas..
 
#2 ·
It flashes each code 3 times. The first code that comes up is 12 (flash,short pause, flash-flash) which indicates the start of the codes and isn't anything to worry about then any error codes are flashed and once all the codes are flashed it stats again with 12.

It can be a bit difficult to work out when a "digit" has been displayed, so to speak, so it's best to leave it running and practice spotting the three 12's and then you should be able to "catch" any error codes.

I hope it makes sense but I've had a few bevvies because I'm celebrating the fact that after 5 months of being out of work someone actually wants to interview me for a job. :D
 
#3 ·
right tried again this morning and got the results...
the faults are.
code 24=vehicle speed sensor
and code35=idle stepper motor..
any ideas guys...
sounds like my single point injector is fooked:cry:
 
#4 ·
be4 u do anything xpensive, hve u tried 2 disconnect the battery, this can somtimes clear faults in ecu, drive it for a week and then re-read, this may only bring on one fault, hey presto one cheaper fault.

It may save you wasting money on a saved temporary fault

We do do this in the trade sometimes to save customers money.
 
#5 ·
i did reset the ecu few days ago and the car was running much better but the ecu started flashing again..i think it is the single point that is knackered.. any ways of testing the idle stepper motor to see if it is really faultycoz thats wat the ecu is pointing at :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
#6 ·
I take it this was done on the 1.6 Cav (as listed in your signature?).

code 24=vehicle speed sensor
and code35=idle stepper motor

First, do the test again but with the engine running, this may remove code 24.

Code 35 is the ISCV (Idle speed Control Valve). I don't know your engine very well but its ounds like you have a stepper motor rather than a valve. Most of these on smaller engines are located right by the throttle body/butterfly flap. You can check its connections first, see if the pins are ok, the plug fits home and there are no break, cuts or splts in the cable form. The Haynes book should show you where this is. If you have a DVM, you may be able to test it.

About ECU codes, most non-Simtec ECU's can be reset/cleaerd by simply removing the +12v battery terminal, and leave it off for a few minutes.
 
#7 ·
Originally posted by Topbuzz
I take it this was done on the 1.6 Cav (as listed in your signature?).

code 24=vehicle speed sensor
and code35=idle stepper motor


the engine code is C16NZ single point injection for starters.. code 24 i think i might have got that wrong it might be 23..
also code 35 is a definate fault on my car coz its overfueling and its running lumpy..
i got myself another single point unit off a 1.8 M reg cav.. matched it up with mine and they both exact the same will fit it tomorow and read codes again see if theres anymore...
also wen i was reading codes once i started engine the engine managment light just kept flashing contiunsly..i got better and accurate readings with just ignition on...
 
#8 ·
> wen i was reading codes once i started engine the engine
> managment light just kept flashing contiunsly..i got better and > accurate readings with just ignition on...

A few people have said that now. When I read them off my Nova GTE (E16SE) and Calibra (C20XE), it works ok with ignition on or with the engine running.

It seems for some systems the light flashing method becomes iratic and you can't count the codes, there appears to be no pattern.