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[Brikhead]

I noticed a few weeks ago that the engine management light on my year 2002 2.6 Omega was not coming on with the ignition so I decided to perform the pedal test which revealed three codes.
1. 0650
2. 0430
3. 0420
I know from previous experience with a 2.6 Vectra that the catalytic converter codes are common and don't necessarily point to a serious problem with these engines, indeed on the Omega it seems usual to move the lambdas to 'fix' the fault.

Today I had cause to remove the dash clocks so thought I may as well replace the e.m.l. bulb (and fix 0650 fault code) whilst I was there.
Now the e.m.l. seems to be performing normally and goes out after a few seconds when the ignition is turned on.
 
Now to my questions, is it possible that having the battery disconnected for a few hours has cleared the cat fault codes, or is there another reason why they are no longer causing a problem?
Also what causes those fault codes in the first place?

Thank's in advance...

[Entwood]

Codes will only "show" as an error while they actually exist, but will remain on the pedal test/paperclip test/code reader checks as "historical" for some time ... reputed to be 20 / 30 clean starts.

So if the 0420/0430 codes have "gone" by a change of fuel/driving style they will not be "present" faults that put the EML on .. but "historical" ones that can be read.

Hope that makes some sort of sense .... 

0420/0430 are "cat inefficiency codes"  IME they come on when the lamda sensors detect a "change" in exhaust gases. In my case it seems to be when I go to France and change fuel !!! 

Others say that cheap (supermarket) fuel causes them and "good" fuel removes them, others say that an "italian tune up" will clear them .. seems to me that the sensors just get used to some gas levels and moan if they change !!

With the 2.6 / 3.2 it seems to be .. not "if" they come on but "when" they come on !!!

[Brikhead]

Yeah, that makes sense, thank's for replying...

So if the 0420/0430 codes have "gone" by a change of fuel/driving style

So it's not disconnecting the battery that has extinguished the light, more likely the fact I use high octane fuel and thrash use the car as it was designed that has done it?

[Brikhead]

With the 2.6 / 3.2 it seems to be .. not "if" they come on but "when" they come on !!!

S'funny you should say that as I have two 2.6's at the moment and the other one also isn't showing any 'cat codes', that one just reported 0110 and 0100, maybe we just get good fuel in the west mids!?