[ampera_jed]

Just yesterday, instead of my wing mirror indicators flashing at the same time as the other indicators (when performing locking/unlocking/heating operations), the wing mirrors now do 3 quick flashes in the same time the other indicators do one. (i.e. when unlocking they'll flash 6 times while the other indicators flash twice).

Absolutely weird, no issues, no warning messages, no settings changed, no reason I can imagine.

Why has my car started acting differently, and giving triple mirror flashes? Anyone else have this?

 

[FireMate]

Any of the normal lights outside of the car, like the front turn signals, get turned in to LED recently?

 

[ampera_jed]

Nope. I haven't changed a bulb for 18 months and never yet needed to change an indicator bulb.

I can check the rears again, but I don't think that's it. Turn indicators work normally.

 

[16513]

Sounds like that old bugaboo, the 12v battery may be playing tricks. Clean and reboot.

 

[ampera_jed]

I was thinking similar thoughts. Original battery, 4 years old. Most other owners seem to start getting problems at 3 yr old batteries.

Still, it is not the most obvious manifestation of a low 12V battery I would have imagined. Not convinced yet of what it is.

The really weird thing is that the bumper lights flash once while the wing mirrors flash 3 times, you'd have thought they were on some sort of similar circuit. This means they are under separate logic controls within the BCS module. Not what I would have expected.

 

[emartin00]

If the voltage is low, it may cause this issue. With the incandescent bulb, it will be slightly dimmer, but it may cause the LED to flicker.

 

[ampera_jed]

It wasn't a flicker, it was a well-timed 3-pulse flash.

I say 'was'.......... not doing it today!?!?!

 

[Aseras]

I think that's the security system "tamper" indicator which means it detected someone trying to open the doors or hatch when it was locked without a key or RFID present.

from manual page 2-15

How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
If (LOCK) is pressed on the transmitter
and the horn chirps and the lights
flash three times, a previous alarm
occurred while the system was
armed.
If the alarm has been activated, a
message will appear on the DIC.
See Security Messages on
page 5-48.

 

[ampera_jed]

OK, thanks, so, yes, this could have been it.

I have just gone out to try 'activating' this tamper warning (by trying to unlock the door) and it is flashing like this now. It's also not resetting itself straight away. How does it reset? There is no warning on the DIC and I have tried cycling the power and this 'warning' is still flashing away.

The UK Ampera handbook doesn't mention this feature at all. Odd!

I can't see it in the MY12 or MY13 Volt handbooks either. Which one did your excerpt come from?

... OK, have downloaded the MY15 and it is in there. A MY15 feature in a MY13? hmm... OK... ??

 

[canehdian]

Did you just power cycle or actually drive away? It may not reset until the vehicle actually shifts out of park (those in 2013+ know this triggers the 12A/8A value to reset)
On my previous ICE-only vehicle, it would reset simply by unlocking with an authorized fob button press. Clearly needs a bit more in the new version.