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Blinking check Engine Light, PLEASE HELP

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02-05-2010, 03:08 PM

Midnight Express

2nd Gear Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: North Carolina

Posts: 245

Blinking check Engine Light, PLEASE HELP

On my way to work this morning my check engine light started to blink for about 25 seconds then shut off. The car was running fine. When i drove it home about 2 hours later it still was fine and when i got home i checked for any codes and none. I know a blinking check engine light is real bad so im afraid to drive my car now. What do you guys think.
Thanks.

02-05-2010, 03:29 PM

rmssch89

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Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: AZ

Posts: 412

I don't have my manual in front of me but I believe that a blinking CEL indicates a misfire. I'd get out your manual and see what is says.

02-05-2010, 04:21 PM

MoneyShot

2nd Gear Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Athens, Georgia

Posts: 297

mine has done that too. i think it means that the car has detected a potential reason to throw a CEL or a "pending" code. It will not show a full CEL unless the particular sensor flag a problem twice in a drive cycle. did it do it when you got home? if it is off and driving fine, your car may not have detected it in the latest drive cycle and has cleared the pending code. i wouldn't worry about it.

edit: i miss read your first post. i thought it was blinking while parked, not while driving

Last edited by MoneyShot; 02-05-2010 at 05:55 PM.

02-05-2010, 04:24 PM

Midnight Express

2nd Gear Member

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Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: North Carolina

Posts: 245

I just read the owners manual and a blinking light means that there was a misfire. I reloaded my tune. check for any codes and nothing.

02-05-2010, 04:31 PM

Nuke

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Location: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)

Posts: 16,182

Here's what the manual says:

"If the light is blinking, engine misfire is occurring which could
damage your catalytic converter. Drive in a moderate fashion (avoid
heavy acceleration and deceleration) and have your vehicle serviced

immediately by your authorized dealer."

02-05-2010, 04:50 PM

baddog671

6th Gear Member

Join Date: May 2005

Location: MD/WV

Posts: 5,736

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuke

Here's what the manual says:

[LEFT]"If the light is blinking, engine misfire is occurring which could
damage your catalytic converter. Remove catalytic converters by
replacing with aftermarket x-pipe to avoid damage."

Fiktz

See officer, the book TOLD me too!

02-05-2010, 05:37 PM

MoneyShot

2nd Gear Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Athens, Georgia

Posts: 297

this is if it is blinking after the engine is stopped and the car is parked?

edit: misread the first post.

Last edited by MoneyShot; 02-05-2010 at 05:57 PM.

02-05-2010, 05:58 PM

Midnight Express

2nd Gear Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: North Carolina

Posts: 245

Should i take it to a shop, i just drove it and it feels fine. I dont have cats, so there is no damage that could be done. I just dont want my car to catch on fire or hurt the motor.

02-05-2010, 06:11 PM

MoneyShot

2nd Gear Member

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Athens, Georgia

Posts: 297

a misfire could be due to a lot of things.
-lower octane gas
-water in your fuel line
-a fouled plug
-a bad coil
-a malfunctioning injector
-a EGR that is stuck open

most of which can be fixed at home. if it just happed the one time, and you didn't even feel it, and if it has not happened again i would just check your spark plugs and get some name brand 91 octane gas and write it off as a fluke