How do you read vw check engine light blinks

How do you read the actual light blinks from the check engine light on a 2001 VW Jetta? My OBD-II connection just gives an error connecting when a reader is connected.

You can't read the actual blinks of the CEL with an OBDII system.

Either your code reader is not equipped to read VWs or the reader is not communicating with the vehicle.

Do you have 12v at pin 16?

If not, check fuses, especially the cigar/cigarette lighter fuse.

I have tried having a few places check it including the dealership & it always gets an error communicating. The cigarette lighter gets power, but I did have an aftermarket stereo put in to it. They used a wiring harness instead of splicing the wire so I would hope that would be ok, but there is a connector on the same bundle as the antenna that is not connected to anything. Everything else seems to work as far as the accessory items (lights, turn signals, horn, etc.). I will check the power on pin 16 & let you know about that. If I don't get power there, what should I do. Also, what fuse(s) should I check. I am leary of just pulling them because there is at least one fuse in there that will set the car in to fail safe mode if it gets pulled & the car runs like a dog until the computer gets reset. Did that before & it cost me 80 bucks to have the dealership reset it. Thanks for the help, by the way.

Well, I did some research & found that aftermarket stereos can cause a problem with the obd connection. When improperly installed they draw power from the obd connection. I removed my stereo & voila! I was able to read the codes just fine. Thanks for your help. I'm going to go figure out these codes now.

Had you told us about the aftermarket radio install, it would have saved you some research.

However, I'm glad you got it figured out.

FYI...some aftermarket remote starting systems can make vehicles do weird things too.