What makes a flashing CEL?
03-21-2003, 03:12 PM
#1
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What makes a flashing CEL?
I was on my way to work this morning, and gunned it to the top of 3rd gear. I got a flashing CEL, and when I started from the next light I got more flashing CEL and MISFIRES LIKE CRAZY. Now, my car is riding real rough, even at idle, and has a perma-flashing CEL. Mods are up-pipe and Turboback exhaust, IC Hoses, and UD pulley. Gauge says I hit 1.03bar, so no crazy boost. Any clues as to my problem?
Thanks in Advance
-Etch
Thanks in Advance
-Etch
03-21-2003, 04:13 PM
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You actually answered your own question. A flashing CEL means a misfire is being detected AT THAT TIME, whereas a steady CEL indicates a problem has been detected at some point and a code has been stored.
It's usually safe to continue driving with a steady CEL but if it's flashing it needs immediate attention.
The mods you have normally shouldn't cause misfires and may have nothing to do with it, but you should check for vacuum leaks, perhaps one of your IC hoses has come loose.
Other than vacuum leaks, other possible causes of misfires are ignition and fuel problems. One of the coil packs could be bad or have a loose connection, or there could be a problem with an injector.
Have the car scanned to see if any trouble codes are stored, this will help with troubleshooting.
It's usually safe to continue driving with a steady CEL but if it's flashing it needs immediate attention.
The mods you have normally shouldn't cause misfires and may have nothing to do with it, but you should check for vacuum leaks, perhaps one of your IC hoses has come loose.
Other than vacuum leaks, other possible causes of misfires are ignition and fuel problems. One of the coil packs could be bad or have a loose connection, or there could be a problem with an injector.
Have the car scanned to see if any trouble codes are stored, this will help with troubleshooting.
03-21-2003, 04:26 PM
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Literally a flashing CEL puts your car in 'Limp Mode' almost like a valet mode on a car with an alarm system. My car was misfiring the other day and I found out it was the cyl.#2 spark plug. It was broken on the end, you know the little hook that received the arc from the white thingy (sorry, don't know technical terms). So have the code pulled and you might wanna check ur plugs and wires as well. JMHO
Cody
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Cody
°¿°
03-21-2003, 05:23 PM
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Just checked out everything under the hood (didn't pull the plugs because it's a PITA) but everything seems OK. IC hoses are fine and tight. Gonna have to call SOA. Hopefully they can look past the exhaust and IC hoses to see if there is another problem... might I say a real one. Wish me luck with SOA.
03-21-2003, 06:07 PM
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Greg... Let's take a look at the car together! I bet it's an EGT sensor malfunction (maybe the 2.2k ohm resistor fell out? 
) or a coil-pack/spark plug issue... Could be a crank sensor that came loose. A whole bunch of stuff that we could check before you get too worried. 
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) or a coil-pack/spark plug issue... Could be a crank sensor that came loose. A whole bunch of stuff that we could check before you get too worried. __________________
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03-24-2003, 03:33 PM
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In case you are all wondering. (I know there's somebody out there on pins and needles) The diagnosis was a bad plug. Replaced, and good as new.
-Etch
) The diagnosis was a bad plug. Replaced, and good as new.-Etch
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