What Should I Do If My Check Engine Light Is Flashing?


What Should I Do If My Check Engine Light Is Flashing?

The check engine light only comes on when a problem has been detected in your car. While a steady check engine light doesn’t require immediate attention, a blinking or flashing one does need help. It means that your engine is misfiring or worse.

An engine misfire occurs when the combustion process is not finished or executed correctly, usually due to spark plug problems, an unbalanced air-to-fuel ratio, or loss in compression. As a result, there is a high risk of unburned fuel passing through the exhaust system. Consequently, your engine will run rough, stall out, or not be able to start up at all.

You shouldn’t drive with a flashing check engine light until you find the exact cause. Otherwise, you may be operating your car with a faulty catalytic converter which can lead to expensive repairs. To pinpoint the problem, you or a professional technician must use a scan tool to locate the issue. A trouble code will be shown on the device. These codes won’t tell you exactly what's wrong, but they are a good starting point for troubleshooting the problem. That is why check engine light diagnostics is best to be left done by professionals with the expertise and experience to detect problems accurately.

Whether you need new spark plugs or sensors replaced or fuel pump or fuel injector cleaned, the team at Strande’s Garage can do it all. We urge you to bring your car to our auto repair shop as soon as you notice a flashing check engine light on your vehicle’s dash. All in all, it not worth risking your safety and hurting your car.