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Flashing check engine light

  • Thread starter Thread starter DougNuts
  • Start date Start date Nov 24, 2003

DougNuts

Founding Member
Jul 11, 2000
2,596
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47
Georgetown Ky
Nov 24, 2003
#1
  • Nov 24, 2003
  • #1
Occasionally while on the highway my check engine light will flash on and off. I haven't found any pattern or any certain condition that causes it (like going up hill).

I installed a new O2 sensor, but that didn't solve the problem. I'm also averaging about 20mpg.

Ran the codes the other day and I'm pretty sure it came out with something about the PIP sensor and the thermactor.

Any ideas?
 

i4power

Founding Member
Jan 11, 2002
1,083
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0
Eglin AFB, Florida
Nov 25, 2003
#2
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #2
If it's flickering on and off, it might either be teetering along the edge of pass and fail in terms of the parameters for the light to come on, or there is a lose wire that causes intermittent signals (hence the flickering). Check your connections to the sensors in question from the code pull, and repair/replace as necessary.
 

mr_woodster

Active Member
Jul 28, 2003
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36
Riverside, CA
Nov 25, 2003
#3
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #3
ya, ive been getting that check engine light syndrome aswell.....i just like to think of it as a shift light, after all its so close to the tach
 

jman_b13

Founding Member
Jul 27, 2000
2,267
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0
Edmond/Norman OK
Nov 25, 2003
#4
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #4
well crap i didn't completly read your message, time to break out the voltmeter and start testing sensors
 

DougNuts

Founding Member
Jul 11, 2000
2,596
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47
Georgetown Ky
Nov 25, 2003
#5
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #5
Shift light, LOL.


Sounds good guys. Since no one knows a certain problem that causes this, I will check the car out over Thanksgiving.
 

HOWNDOG

Member
Aug 24, 2003
186
0
16
Vancouver Island
Nov 25, 2003
#6
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #6
.....sometimes moisture etc. can screw with it. It doesn't always warn of an actual bona-fide problem (hence the term "idiot light).

Cheap fix - remove bulb and sell at parts meet.


BTW, If it was a "smart" light it would know that you already checked the engine. DUH.


HD
 

mr_woodster

Active Member
Jul 28, 2003
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36
Riverside, CA
Nov 25, 2003
#7
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #7
HOWNDOG said:
Cheap fix - remove bulb and sell at parts meet.


HD
Click to expand...

so how much does this usualy fetch these days, i mean these things have got to be colectors items by now!
 

HOWNDOG

Member
Aug 24, 2003
186
0
16
Vancouver Island
Nov 25, 2003
#8
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #8
mr_woodster said:
so how much does this usualy fetch these days, i mean these things have got to be colectors items by now!
Click to expand...

...depends on if it's the blinking kind or the steady on one and if there's a couple ricers at the meet to bid against each other.

HD
 

MSM0075

Member
May 13, 2003
741
0
16
Central Jersey
Nov 25, 2003
#9
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #9
How do you go about testing your sensors? I get a check engine light randomly as im driving down the highway from work...

I've ran codes many times and only brought up idle problems..

I get an average of 16.5 MPG..sad sad sad. car also smells like its running REAL rich sometimes...

Now that would lead to a bad o2 Sensor right? then why didnet the scaner bring that up? I also tryed unpluging the o2 sensor and drove the car and it dident change a thing.
 

DougNuts

Founding Member
Jul 11, 2000
2,596
0
47
Georgetown Ky
Nov 25, 2003
#10
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #10
MSM0075 said:
How do you go about testing your sensors? I get a check engine light randomly as im driving down the highway from work...

I've ran codes many times and only brought up idle problems..

I get an average of 16.5 MPG..sad sad sad. car also smells like its running REAL rich sometimes...

Now that would lead to a bad o2 Sensor right? then why didnet the scaner bring that up? I also tryed unpluging the o2 sensor and drove the car and it dident change a thing.
Click to expand...


Exact same problem that I'm having. I changed the o2 sensor and that didn't do a ****ing thing for my milage or the light. If you figure it out, let me know. I'll take a good hard look at the car this weekend to see if I can figure anything out.
 

mr_woodster

Active Member
Jul 28, 2003
1,314
0
36
Riverside, CA
Nov 25, 2003
#11
  • Nov 25, 2003
  • #11
DougNuts said:
Exact same problem that I'm having. I changed the o2 sensor and that didn't do a ****ing thing for my milage or the light. If you figure it out, let me know. I'll take a good hard look at the car this weekend to see if I can figure anything out.
Click to expand...

id check all the senors under and connected to the lower intake, aswell as the vaccum lines(which tend to be brittle and break). I just cleand under my intake (had the car on the lift, so i figured id clean it a little), unplugged them all ,cleaned of windblown oil and residue, and reconnected them. So far no check engine light, but that my just be a strand of good luck im having...i hit 3 green lights in a row today!
 
K

ka0tyk

Founding Member
Oct 10, 2001
1,610
0
0
Los Angeles, CA
Nov 28, 2003
#12
  • Nov 28, 2003
  • #12
just run a KOEO test and it will get readings from all teh sensors and tell you which ones are faulty with a code...
 

DougNuts

Founding Member
Jul 11, 2000
2,596
0
47
Georgetown Ky
Nov 30, 2003
#13
  • Nov 30, 2003
  • #13
I got 24.6 mpg on a 256 mile trip tonight. That's after a new set of plugs and wires. Nothing to write home about, but that's the best I've gotten so far. A little more tuning and maybe I'll get it 25+!!

I still am getting the check engine light, it usually comes on as I'm cresting a hill or as I am going down one.
 
W

Wyatt

Founding Member
Mar 27, 2002
103
0
0
Feb 2, 2004
#14
  • Feb 2, 2004
  • #14
don't know whats up with my engine light, but it will go out if I rev the engine to somewhere around 3500, but for the most part it stays on all the time now, before that it use to go off and on when I rev'ed the motor but now its just on up till 3500.

anyways guess I will be checking all my sensors.
if anyone has a clue to what could be wrong I'd be so happy.

besides that the car runs fine.
 

kiddiccarus

The first widely accepted Tranny
20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 24, 2003
1,789
1,051
143
30 Mins from a Ragged GT
Feb 2, 2004
#15
  • Feb 2, 2004
  • #15
I made sure that the plugs and wires were fully seated and checked vaccume lines and the light went off. For now.......
 
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