Flashing Check Engine Light??

[JOHNP]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Halcyon_Dolour]

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]

flashing SES light can't be good....hopefully your plugs was the only problem.

 

[bdcardinal]

flashing CEL usually means that theres damage being done to the cats.

 

[xomp]

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]

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.

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

Pretty darn close.

Check your PMs.

Matt

 

[johnnyvista]

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]

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

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