Vauxhall/Opel Meriva – Code 82

The Opel/Vauxhall Meriva is a small MPV manufactured between 2003 and 2017. There are two generations of Meriva, from 2003 to 2010 and from 2010 – 2017.  One of the things you may notice coming up on your Vauxhall Meriva at least once per year is a picture of a yellow car with a spanner sign inside. The code for this is error code 82 and this is what you might get if you did an OBD read on the car.

All this means is that it’s time to service the car, and it’s reminding you that it wants an engine oil and filter change. This means it’s either been a year since you last had your car serviced, or that you’ve done around 20,000 miles and the car is reminding you that it’s time to change the oil soon.

However, you might be wondering how to reset the service indicator after changing the oil, and in this article we’re going to show you how to do just that.

Resetting the Vauxhall Meriva service light

Vauxhall Meriva A (first generation)

For this generation, resetting the service light is easy. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Switch off the engine.
2. Hold the TRIP button on the dashboard.
3. Turn the ignition on – but don’t start the engine.
4. Keep the TRIP button held and it will start to flash. It will reset and show you how long you have until you have to reset the light again.

Vauxhall Meriva B (second generation)

If you have the advanced display model, you’ll need to use the indicator (turn signal) stalk to reset the oil light. If you don’t, you’ll need to use a combination of the brake and the TRIP button.

Advanced display:

1. Switch off the engine.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Go to the “oil life” section of your screen. You will need to press the menu button on the indicator stalk. You’ll see then a picture of an oil pan, with a marker telling you how much life is left in your oil.
4. To clear this, press the clear button (on the end of the stalk.) You’ll hear a beep and the oil life will go to 100%.

Basic display:

1. Switch off the engine.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press the TRIP button until you see a % oil life figure.
4. Put your foot on the brake and hold it.
5. Press and hold the TRIP button again and wait until you hear a beep. The oil life will reset to 100%.

What does the spanner light mean on a Vauxhall Meriva?

The spanner light is exactly the same as a Code 82, and it means your engine needs a service. Don’t just reset the light – if you’re taking your car to a garage they should reset the service indicator for you, but if you’ve serviced your car yourself, you should follow the procedure above to reset the service indicator.

How do you reset the engine management light?

There are a few methods to do this – although in all honesty if you have an engine management light on you shouldn’t be trying to reset it, you should be taking it to a garage to be inspected.

Firstly you can try to do a code clear with an OBD reader. This will usually make any lights on the dash go out unless the issue is a recurring one, in which case the engine management light will come straight back.

If this doesn’t work, one thing you can do is try to find out the fault codes, as this will allow you to remove them with a proper diagnostic machine.

1. Press the brake and accelerator all the way down.
2. Turn the ignition on but not the engine.
3. The engine light on the dashboard should now start to flash.
4. There will be a sequence of numbers flashing. Pauses between numbers will be small, and pauses between codes will be longer. The number of flashes needs to be counted and therefore you can determine the fault code.

Once you have the fault code you can try to clear it with a proper diagnostic machine. If this doesn’t work you’ll need to get the car looked at either by Vauxhall themselves, or by a local independent garage that you trust.

Also Read: Understanding Code 82 in Vauxhall Mokka: A Comprehensive Guide

Will a spanner light fail an MOT on a Vauxhall Meriva?

As long as it’s just a reminder light, such as the Meriva Code 82 we’ve already discussed, this should not fail an MOT – all it’s doing is reminding you to get the car serviced. Whether you’ve had your car serviced recently isn’t something that’s checked with an MOT.

However, if you’ve got other warning lights such as an engine management light, it’s possible that this will cause your vehicle to fail. If you have an EML on, get your car looked at ASAP.

Can I drive my Vauxhall Meriva with the service light on?

Of course you can – as above, the Code 82 spanner light is only a reminder that you need to service the car, and no adverse effects will happen if you continue to drive the car. Be aware that if you don’t service the car as per the manufacturer’s recommendations, you can cause premature engine wear and decreased engine performance. When you car tells you it needs a service, get it serviced.

What oil does the Vauxhall Meriva take?

Generally a 5W-30 grade oil will be appropriate across the range of Meriva A and B variants. Be aware that you should double-check this with the retailer before purchasing the oil you think you need – most motor factors and oil retailers will have registration checks that you can perform to ensure that you are buying the correct oil for your car.

Check out some of our other engine related articles!

Also Read: Vauxhall/Opel Astra Code 82 – How to fix it