The Vauxhall/Opel Astra is a common, popular small car that has been sold in various iterations since 1980. It’s handsome styling and reliable drivetrain make it one of the best selling smaller vehicles in Europe, and that continues today. One thing you will notice from time to time on your Astra is the service light. The code for this is “code 82” and this is what the car would tell you if you did an OBD read with a scanner.
Code 82 simply means that the car needs a service – either just an oil and filter change, or it may need a more extensive service where the fuel filter, pollen filter and air filter need to be replaced too. You’ll start to see a Code 82 when the car has done around 20,000 miles since it was last serviced, or if it’s been around a year. All it means is that the car is telling you that you need to change the oil.
How to reset the Vauxhall/Opel Astra service light
In the below section we’ve covered every model of Vauxhall/Opel Astra since 2005. You should only do this after changing the oil – there’s nothing stopping you doing it whenever you want to, but it’s there to remind you to service the engine, and if you don’t do this, you risk damage to your vehicle over the long term.
If you’re unsure as to which Astra model you have, we’ve included pictures so you can identify your car and follow the correct procedure.
Vauxhall/Opel Astra 2004 – 2010 (H)
- Push your foot down on the brake pedal.
- Hold onto the “trip” button on the dashboard.
- As you keep these two held, turn the ignition on. Don’t start the engine.
- Wait until the “INSP” light starts to flash.
- After around ten to fifteen seconds your service light will be reset.
Vauxhall/Opel Astra 2009 – 2016 (J)
- Turn the ignition on. Don’t start the engine.
- Press the Menu button, until the display in the middle of the dash says “vehicle information”.
- Push the toggle up until you see “Oil life”.
- When you reach the remaining oil life screen, push SET/CLR until a message appears
- Choose “Yes” to perform the service reset.
Vauxhall/Opel Astra 2015 – 2021 (K)
- Turn the ignition on. Don’t start the engine.
- Use the left arrow button on the steering wheel to bring up the menu.
- Scroll through the options to find “oil life”.
- Press and hold the middle, “tick” button until you hear a beep. This will reset the oil life.
Will disconnecting the battery clear trouble codes?
Generally yes, but it won’t reset the service light. Disconnecting the battery can sometimes clear old codes that may have been resolved but not cleared. You shouldn’t try to disconnect the battery to clear any codes, however – the only reason you should be disconnecting the battery is if you know how to do so safely and you either need to remove the battery to perform work on the car or you need to replace the battery as it’s worn out.
If you follow the steps above, you’ll clear Code 82 from your Vauxhall Astra without having to worry about touching the battery or doing a code read on your car. However, if you have other codes that are causing you problems, such as an engine management light, and you’re sure that they’re old codes, you can clear them with an OBD reader.
What are the common faults with the Vauxhall/Opel Astra?
The Astra is a pretty reliable car by all accounts, and since it’s been around in various iterations over the past 40 years, it’s impossible to list every fault you might get when buying a Vauxhall Astra. However, here are a few that you might experience on anything after 2005. This is down to my experience as a mechanic – I can’t tell you how many Astras I have seen in the years I’ve been fixing cars.
2004-2010 Astra (H)
By far the most common issues on these cars are suspension and electrical faults. Front suspension bushes wear out very quickly and require replacement. Additionally, a very common fault on these cars is the gear linkage – you find that you get a buzzing in third gear. This is down to the gear change cables transmitting vibration and sound inside the car. Modified gear change cables need to be installed to fix this problem.
2009-2016 Astra (J)
Corrosion between the brake pads and calipers is a big problem on the Astra J, and usually results in the rear pads needing to be replaced. Sometimes you notice difficulty changing gear, and this is often to do with the gear change cables allowing water in and becoming seized.
You may also notice issues starting the car, along with wipers and central locking issues. Often electrical issues with the Astra J are as a result of the condensation draining from the air conditioning system leaking into the body control module. The only way this can be fixed is by replacement of the BCM.
2015-2021 Astra (K)
This is a more reliable car than the previous two generations in my experience, but not without its issues. Watch again for electrical issues especially those related to the infotainment system, as well as clutch juddering and slow starts or difficulty starting which is usually to do with the camshaft sensor.
Also Read: Understanding Code 82 in Vauxhall Mokka: A Comprehensive Guide
Can I reset Code 82 without servicing the car?
You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The reason your service light has come on is because it’s time to service the car. I’ve written extensively about the need to service your car regularly – it simply isn’t something that you do as and when you feel like it, it’s necessary to do regularly in order to keep your car in the best possible shape.
The car won’t stop you driving after resetting the service light, even if the car hasn’t been serviced – but at the bare minimum you should be giving the car an oil and filter change once a year.
Can I drive with the service light on?
Again – yes, technically you can – there’s nothing that’s going to stop you driving the car with the service light on. As I’ve mentioned previously, however – if your car is telling you that you need a service, then get it serviced to make sure your car lasts as long as possible. Delaying a simple oil and filter change now can lead to costly maintenance in future.
Check out some more of our servicing/maintenance related articles!
Also Read: Vauxhall/Opel Meriva – Code 82
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About the author
Marcus Brown is editor-in-chief of The FatMech and is a mechanic with ten years' experience based in London, UK. Having worked for major dealerships for many years, Marcus now works for a local independent garage and has experience working on nearly every make and model of car. Marcus also has a passion for writing and teaching, which is where the idea for The FatMech came from. In his spare time, Marcus enjoys playing golf, doing home renovations and gardening. He lives just outside London with his wife and son.