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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Flashing Check Engine Light??

  • Thread starter Thread starter JOHNP
  • Start date Start date Jan 12, 2004

JOHNP

Founding Member
May 24, 2002
209
0
0
Raleigh, NC
Jan 12, 2004
#1
  • Jan 12, 2004
  • #1
My check engine light came on today. Pulled the code and was mis-firing on cylinder 6. Pulled the plug and it was totally fried ( I had cheap'o Bosch plugs in for 2 months ). Changed my plugs with Motorcraft and re-connected the battery. When I started the car the CEL was flashing. Turned off and dis-connected the battery for 30 minutes. started again and no CEL. The problem was definitly because of the crappy plugs, but I was worried about the flashing CEL. Any thoughts???
 

03trubluGT

New Member
Nov 19, 2002
1,067
0
0
Mansfield, TX
Jan 12, 2004
#2
  • Jan 12, 2004
  • #2
A flashing CEL is worse than a steady CEL.

I can't quote a techical term, but I remember reading that the above is true.

Maybe someone more experianced can chime in.....

Matt
 

JOHNP

Founding Member
May 24, 2002
209
0
0
Raleigh, NC
Jan 12, 2004
#3
  • Jan 12, 2004
  • #3
Well, I have started the car 4 or 5 times since this morning and no light yet. I have also driven about 50 miles, so I figure it would have come on by now if it was going to come back on.

Hey ... I noticed you are in Mansfield ... I live right off of I-20 & 360.
 
H

Halcyon_Dolour

My gash is bleeding but I don't let that stop me f
Founding Member
Nov 5, 2002
455
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0
Bottom of a Bottle
Jan 12, 2004
#4
  • Jan 12, 2004
  • #4
If I remember correctly the CEL flashes when the light is already on (a code has been thrown) and another code is thrown. If you changed the plugs but didn't disconnect the battery afterwards that might have been the problem. If your car is running fine now than it's probably ok.
 

DeadLurker

Daily Driven
Sep 7, 2001
7,702
0
0
New York
Jan 12, 2004
#5
  • Jan 12, 2004
  • #5
flashing SES light can't be good....hopefully your plugs was the only problem.
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
16
69
santa barbara, CA
Jan 12, 2004
#6
  • Jan 12, 2004
  • #6
flashing CEL usually means that theres damage being done to the cats.
 

xomp

Founding Member
Sep 8, 2002
91
0
6
SOCAL
Jan 12, 2004
#7
  • Jan 12, 2004
  • #7
mine flashed before, i think i got water into the intake. after cleaning and drying out the intake and maf, disconnecting the battery, cel didn't come back on. i didn't have a obd2 reader back then so i didn't know what it was.

i dont think flashing would be because another code was thrown. recently, i had a p0136 (bad passenger side sensor), then when i read it again about a month later it also had "system too rich" (forget which code that was, nitrous)
 

03trubluGT

New Member
Nov 19, 2002
1,067
0
0
Mansfield, TX
Jan 13, 2004
#8
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #8
JOHNP said:
Well, I have started the car 4 or 5 times since this morning and no light yet. I have also driven about 50 miles, so I figure it would have come on by now if it was going to come back on.

Hey ... I noticed you are in Mansfield ... I live right off of I-20 & 360.
Click to expand...


I'm south of I-20 off of 360 and Broad.

Pretty darn close.

Check your PMs.

Matt
 
J

johnnyvista

New Member
Jan 15, 2004
123
0
0
Jan 15, 2004
#9
  • Jan 15, 2004
  • #9
CEL flashing

i had my CEL both on and flashing. i took it to the dealer to get it fixed or turned off or whatever. after arguing with the service manager for a half hour, they let me in on the secret. the CEL is just a smog light and it was on because of my exhaust. if it said 'smog light', no one would ever go to the dealer and get their car fixed. so it says 'check engine soon' to panic you into taking your car to the dealer and spending money.

maybe he was bs-ing me, maybe not.

jv
 

stangman

15 Year Member
Jul 10, 2003
2,690
10
69
in a 3 bed, 2 bath
Jan 15, 2004
#10
  • Jan 15, 2004
  • #10
johnnyvista said:
i had my CEL both on and flashing. i took it to the dealer to get it fixed or turned off or whatever. after arguing with the service manager for a half hour, they let me in on the secret. the CEL is just a smog light and it was on because of my exhaust. if it said 'smog light', no one would ever go to the dealer and get their car fixed. so it says 'check engine soon' to panic you into taking your car to the dealer and spending money.

maybe he was bs-ing me, maybe not.

jv
Click to expand...



ding, ding, ding...... we have a winner those lights are "mostly" for getting you to go spend more money at the dealer. they do serve a purpose, but mainly to get you to go back
 
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